HC Deb 23 April 1920 vol 128 cc726-7W
Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can say what proportion of sparkling wines is now imported from France?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Of the total of sparkling wine imported in the year 1919, approximately 97 per cent was consigned from France.

Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the average number of gallons of sparkling wine cleared from bond annually between 31st March, 1904, and 31st March, 1914; and on what annual clearance he bases the estimate of yield of £1,900,000 for a full year from the proposed ad valorem duty.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The average number of gallons of sparkling wine retained for home consumption in the period named was approximately 1,200,000 gallons per year, as compared with 1,498,000 gallons in the year 1919. The estimate mentioned in the last part of the question is based on an assumed clearance of 1,300,000 gallons.