§ Mr. P. WHITEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, the Government having established the principle that excess profits consequent upon a state of war were in part due to the State, he will also establish the corollary that diminished profits arising out of acts of the Government to sustain the war should in part be borne by the Government; and, if so, whether, having regard to the fact that the licensed traders of Ireland have been deprived of three-fourths of their income, the State will, out of excess profits collected, repair their losses?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Government cannot admit the principle with regard 2047W to diminished profits stated in the first part of the question; as regards the second part, I can add nothing to the reply given by the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member for West Belfast on the 17th April.