§ Mr. GROVESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the present duty would be on 100 gallons of natural Portuguese wine not exceeding 14 per cent. absolute alcohol; how many gallons of proof spirit would be required to fortify such 100 gallons to the average strength of Portuguese wines as imported into this country; what would be the duty at the present rate on such spirits; and what is the existing duty on the resulting mixture of natural wine and spirits?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe present duty on 100 gallons of Portuguese wine not ex-ceeding 219W 14 per cent. absolute alcohol, if the wine is imported in cask, is £12 10s. The quantity of proof spirit required to fortify such wine to the average strength of Portuguese wines as imported into this country would be about 14 gallons, on which the duty at the present rate, if the spirit were British, would be about £51. The duty on 114 gallons of Portuguese wine if imported at average strength would be about £34.