asked the Minister for Finance what would have been the loss in duty of a fall of one per cent. in the consumption of tobacco in the financial year 1958/59 (excluding any tax on stocks in hand at the time of the 1958 Budget).
12.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tobacco Duties.
11.
asked the Minister for Finance what would be the increase or decrease in duty arising from an increase or decrease of one per cent. in the size of the cigarette which normally retails at 3/1d. per packet of twenty.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take questions numbered 11 and 12 together. A fall of one per cent. in the consumption of tobacco in the financial year 1958/59 would have resulted in a reduction of the order of £250,000 in the yield of tobacco duty.
A variation of one per cent. in the tobacco content of cigarettes generally would result in an increase or decrease of revenue of something over £200,000 per annum. I am not in a position to apportion that figure as between the various sizes of cigarettes.