HC Deb 13 June 1842 vol 63 cc1491-2
Mr. Hutt

begged to know what the right hon. Baronet proposed to do as to the coal duties.

Sir R. Peel

said, Government did not intend to adhere to the duty which it some time since announced on the export of British coal, namely, 4s. The proposal: which Government now intended to make, and which he hoped would meet with the general assent of the House, would be,— that on round coal exported from this country there should be laid a duty of 2s per ton; and on small or screened coal, of 1s>per ton.

Lord J. Russell

asked whether any drawback would be allowed in favour of coal exported for the use of steam-vessels in the service of British subjects?

Sir R. Peel

said, that the position of these steam-vessels in reference to the supply of coal had been taken into consideration by the Government, and the very great difficulty of allowing a drawback was one of the reasons which induced them to make the reduction in the proposed duty which he had just stated. He hoped that with this reduction the House would not think it necessary to incur the risk of fraud which the allowance of drawback would certainly involve. The loss to the revenue he estimated would be about 50,000l.