Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller if he is aware that wine and spirit merchants are called upon to supply all their trade customers with 50 per cent. of their purchases during the year 1916, this being the year upon which the averages are based by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic); if he is aware that the regulations do not force the distillers and blenders to supply the merchants with the same ratio for bonding purposes; and if he is aware that for a considerable time the merchants' stocks have been running lower and lower and, unless the distillers and blenders are forced by regulations to supply the merchants with a proper quantity of spirits, it means closing down a big percentage of bonding warehouses in the country?
§ Mr. McCURDYUnder the Treasury regulations giving effect to the Intoxicating Liquor (Output and Delivery) Order of the 28th February last, merchants are now required to distribute 75 per cent. of the quantity of spirit supplied by them in 1916. The Food Controller is aware that distillers and blenders are not compelled to supply merchants for bonding purposes, and that, owing to the fact that until recently there has been no distillation for two years, the stocks of distillers and blenders are still low. He is confident, however, that any existing difficulties will be met by the resumption of distillation which has now been permitted.
Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller if he is aware that distillers' and blenders' bonded stocks have been accumulating for some time past and that therefore they should be in a position to offer the merchants their proper quantity of spirits of two or three years ago; if he is aware that large quantities of spirits are leaving this country for abroad which are 54W being sold at uncontrolled prices; and if he is aware that spirit merchants need this stock badly at present, but cannot buy at controlled prices because the distillers and blenders politely but firmly refuse to supply?
§ Mr. McCURDYAs until recently there has been no distillation for two years, distillers and blenders have been unable to replenish their stocks, and, therefore, so far from there being an accumulation, there has been a serious depletion of stock during this period. The export of spirits is controlled by the War Trade Department who grant licences on the basis of 50 per cent. of pre-war shipments; but owing to shortage of tonnage exports have recently only amounted to about 35 per cent. of this figure. As regards the last part of the question, so far as the Food Controller is aware, merchants at home are receiving the full quantity due to them under the regulations.
Major BARNESasked the Secretary to the Board of Trade what reasons determined his decision conveyed to the secretary, Byker and St. Peter's Working Men's Social Club, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 20th February, 1919, not to allow the importation of whisky from America into this country; and if they still obtain?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe importation of whisky from abroad has been strictly prohibited since March, 1916, and there seemed no reason for making an exception by granting a licence to this club.