HC Deb 24 May 1916 vol 82 cc2114-5W
Mr. GRETTON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of Excise barrels of beer brewed in the United Kingdom in the last quarters of 1914 and 1915, respectively, and in the first quarters of 1915 and 1916; and in the month of April, 1915, and the same month, 1916?

Mr. McKENNA

The figures are as follows:

Standard Barrels.
In the last quarter of 1914 … 8,160,000
In the last quarter of 1915 … 7,577,000
In the first quarter of 1915 … 6,972,000
In the first quarter of 1916 … *7,632,000
In April, 1915 … 2,397,000
In April, 1916 … *2,046,000
* Provisional figures, subject to slight correction.

Colonel YATE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in the measures for the restriction of the output of beer the same concessions will be extended to free off-licence holders as are to be granted to free on-licence holders?

Mr. PRETYMAN

As at present advised, it does not seem necessary to extend the provisions of Section 5 of the Bill to off-licence holders, but I am looking further into the matter.

Captain DOUGLAS HALL

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that an officer of Customs and Excise verbally informed the Royal Brewery, Newport, Isle of Wight, that if they continue to produce beer at their present rate their brewery, under the Output of Beer (Restriction) Bill, will have to be shut up in June, as they will have produced more beer than they are entitled to do in three months; if so, by whose authority and under what legal powers this communication has been issued; and if the Board of Customs and Excise are aware that this brewery has large orders to supply certain troops stationed in the island, and how the brewery can be expected to carry out these orders if the alleged restrictions are enforced?

Mr. PRETYMAN

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. There has not been time to obtain a report from Newport, but it is quite possible that Excise officers may, in some cases, have drawn the attention of brewers to the provisions of the Output of Beer (Restriction) Bill. The reduction is not, however, to be reckoned on a period ending in June, but on the first six months of operation,i.e., the period ending 30th September.