HC Deb 15 June 1939 vol 348 cc1525-6W
Mr. E. Evans

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will give the quantities of British spirits distilled in each division of the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st March, 1939;

(2) the quantity of spirits in respect of which a rebate was allowed under the Finance Act, 1918, Section 4, as amended, during the financial years 1937–38 and 1938–39, respectively;

(3) the quantities of rum, brandy, geneva, and other potable spirits, and of beer and wine, imported during the year ended 31st March, 1939, and the quantities of home-made beer and spirits exported during the same year?

IMPORTS.
Year ended31st March, 1939.
Description. Unit of Quantity. Quantity.
Spirits:
Enumerated spirits:
Brandy Proof gallons 518,732
Rum Proof gallons 1,547,220
Geneva Proof gallons 69,836
Unenumerated spirits (including imitation rum) Proof gallons 329,912
Liqueurs, cordials, mixtures and other preparations containing spirits in bottle, entered in such a manner as to indicate that the strength is not to be tested. Liquid gallons 2,440
Beer Bulk barrels of 36 gallons. 872,565
Equivalent to *standard barrels. 835,049
Wine Gallons 15,420,894
* The standard barrellage shown is the calculated equivalent to the recorded bulk barrellage.

EXPORTS.
Year ended 31st March,1939.
Description. Unit of Quantity. Quantity.
Beer Bulk barrels of 36 gallons. 276,757
Equivalent to *standard barrels. 266,634
Spirits—home made:
Methyl alcohol, purified so as to be potable Proof gallons 4,129
Whisky, Scotch or Irish (certified as Scotch or Irish Whisky). Proof gallons 7,702,112
Other sorts Proof gallons 1,252,517
*The standard barrellage shown is the calculated equivalent to the recorded bulk barrellage.

Sir J. Simon

The quantity of home-made spirits distilled in each division of the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st March, 1939, was as follows:

— Ethyl Alcohol. Methyl Alcohol. Total.
Proof gallons. Proof gallons. Proof gallons.
England and Northern Ireland. 14,5925,433 6,200,684 52,126,117
Scotland 32,581,352 — 32,581,352
Total 78,506,785 6,200,684 84,707,469

The quantity of spirits in respect of which a rebate was allowed under the Finance Act, 1918, Section 4, as amended, during the financial years 1937–38 and 1938–39, was as follows:

Proof gallons.
1937–38 … … 617,000
1938–39 … … 590,000