Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller if he is aware that the Scottish brewers are in some eases putting the extra beer tax upon their consumers; that the charge for a gravity of 10.23, the cost per barrel before the Budget of this year was 63s. 9d., and that the cost is now fixed at 73s., which is an increase of 9s. 3d,, an increase in duty at gravity standard of 8s. 4½d.; that a gravity of10.29 was 70s. 8d. per barrel before the Budget, and the brewers are now charging 80s. 3d., which is an increase of 9s. 7d., the increased duty at gravity standard being 10s. 7d.; that a gravity of 10.35 before the Budget was 76s. 6d. per barrel, and the brewers now charge 94s. 8d., which is an increase of 17s. 2d., the increase duty at gravity standard being 12s. 9d.; and that the above figures show that the Scottish brewers have passed on to the retailer practically the whole of the increased duty, and in one case are actually taking an increased profit of 4s. 5d. per barrel; if he is aware that, though he has fixed the selling price of beer to the consumer according to gravity, there is no fixed price that the brewer can charge their customers; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Captain MOREINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been directed to the new prices charged by brewers to the tenants and occupiers of licensed houses, namely: 72s. per barrel for 4d. beer, 90s. per barrel for 5d. beer, 108s. per barrel for 6d. beer, 126s. per barrel for 7d. beer, and 144s. per barrel for 8d. beer; whether it was his intention that the additional liquor duties should be borne by the licence-holders; and, in view of the hardship that this will inflict upon them, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have been asked to reply. The Food Controller has no exact information as to the figures to which the hon. and gallant Members refer. I may say, however, that local committees, consisting of representatives of the brewers and retailers in the districts concerned, are now set up for the purpose of dealing with cases of dispute or grievances arising out of prices charged for beer by brewers to the retail trade. A Board of Appeal has also been established to which cases which cannot be settled by these848W committees may be referred; further, if the Board of Appeal disagree, the question may be referred to the Food Controller. I have every reason to believe that it will be possible by means of this machinery to remove any cases of hardship which may have arisen.
Colonel THORNEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the liquor restrictions are costing the country about £56,000,000; if he is aware that the output in 1914 was 36,000,000 barrels, and that the output at the present time is only 20,000,000 barrels, which is a reduction of 16,000,000 barrels; if he is aware that 16,000,000 barrels at £3 10s. per barrel amounts to £56,000,000, which is a loss to the country; if he can state whether the Government have considered the question of allowing the full barrelage to be brewed that was allowed in 1914; and if he will take action in the matter?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe output in 1914 was 36,000,000 standard barrels, equivalent at the then prevailing gravity of 1052 to 38,000,000 bulk barrels. The output now authorised is 26,000,000 standard barrels, equivalent at the average gravity of 1040 to 35,750,000 bulk barrels. The decision to limit the barrelage to 26,000,000 standard barrels is not a Treasury decision and was not taken on financial grounds