§ Mr. HANNONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a petition from the Highland distillers submitting that the Spirit Duty of 72s. 6d. per proof gallon has threatened the Scotch trade with complete disaster; that the interests of Scotch farmers are 491W closely allied with the trade which takes one-half of the barley crop of Scotland; that the by-products from malt constitute 28 per cent. of the food value of barley and this recovered food value is the principal food for dairy cows in the distillery districts, and curtailment of these by products must seriously affect the milk supply; and whether, in view of these facts, he will consider the reduction of the Spirit Duty to at least 50s. per proof gallon?
Mr. YOUNGMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received the petition referred to and also other representations as to the effects of the present Spirit Duty. A3 regards the last
Collections. 31st January, 1921. 31st October, 1921. In Distillers' Warehouses. In General Warehouses. In Distillers' Warehouses. In General Warehouses. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Proof Gallons. Aberdeen … C. & E. 2,609,568 949,673 2,701,798 968,009 Ayr … C. — 27,215 — 27,671 Campbeltown* … E. 5,339,996 342,521 5,390,958 382,646 Dumfries … E. 106,492 172,156 103,887 202,497 Dundee … C. & E. 4,160,746 1,112,766 4,034,617 1,253,342 Edinburgh … C. & E. 14,017,233 4,666,420 15,232,316 5,357,489 Elgin … E. 14,501,990 735,367 14,533,011 773,702 Glasgow … C. — 5,393,324 — 5,536,435 Glasgow … E. 5,217,720 14,143,253 4,658,518 16,127,500 Greenock … C. & E. 3,205,181 1,098,699 3,643,387 1,041,431 Inverness … C. & E. 4,799,491 84,104 4,772,043 85,539 Leith … C. & E. 543,389 4,693,863 527,506 4,701,526 Perth … E. 2,110,529 1,835,204 2,052,808 1,854,027 Total … 56,612,335 35,254,565 57,650,849 38,311,814 * Campbeltown Collection includes Islay and Jura.