HC Deb 14 June 1854 vol 134 cc154-7

Order for Committee read.

House in Committee of Supply.

MR. J. WILSON

said, he would now bring forward the Resolution with respect to the use of sugar in breweries. The Bill before the House for the regulation of the sugar duties contained a clause to prohibit the use of sugar in breweries, because the difference between the duty paid on sugar and the corresponding quality of malt was so great, that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue had become alarmed for the security of the revenue. For that reason it was thought necessary to resort to an absolute restriction of the use of sugar in breweries, a restriction which had previously lasted for five or six years, and had only been removed in 1848. He could not say they had been particularly pressed by the importers of sugar on this question, but they thought it to be their duty sedulously to apply themselves to the subject, to see if they could effect any arrangement by which they could fairly undertake to allow this privilege still to continue without materially endangering the revenue. Upon the whole, they had thought that it was extremely undesirable, and against the policy as regarded trade and commerce which had been followed in this country of late years, to impose any restriction unless it was absolutely necessary to do so. On consideration of this subject with the Commissioners or Inland Revenue, they were prepared to encounter the risk of any fraud that might be practised in consequence of the use of sugar in breweries with regard to the collection of the additional duty over and above that which was paid at the Custom House. The duty to be paid upon sugar at the Custom House is 12s. per cwt., and that duty will be 7s. per cwt. less than the duty payable upon malt. The difference previously between the duty payable upon sugar and the duty payable upon malt was 1s. 6d. per cwt., and the inducement to fraud was not, or course, then so great as when the difference will be 7s. per cwt. They proposed that the brewers who wish to use sugar in their breweries may do so by taking out a small licence, and shall be registered as possessing that privilege, in order that the attention of the Excise officer may be more particularly directed to such brewery than to breweries in general. They proposed that the permission to use sugar in breweries shall still be continued on payment of a corresponding duty equivalent to the new duty upon malt on taking the sugar into the brewery. And they also proposed that every brewer who shall require or wish so to use sugar, shall take out a small licence of 1l. per annum—a mere registration licence—in order that he be registered as a brewer having permission to use sugar in his brewing. In conclusion the hon. Gentleman proposed that the Resolution should be adopted.

MR THOMSON BANKEY

said, he regarded the proposal of the Government as a valuable concession, which he was sure would be appreciated by the trade. He might observe, that the importers of sugar could have no desire to see sugar used in breweries, because sugar could only be used when malt was extremely dear and when the price of sugar was extremely low.

MR. BARROW

said he must complain that hon. Members should be called upon to form a decision upon so important a question without the ordinary notice having been given by printing the Resolution with the Parliamentary papers of the day.

MR. J. WILSON

said, that the course which had been taken was in conformity with the invariable practice of the House. All financial measures were originated by Resolution in Committee, and no notice was given of the nature of the Resolutions, because, if that were done, the operations of traders would at once be affected, and the objects of the Government might be to a great extent frustrated. This was a mere preliminary Resolution, upon which a Bill must be founded, and in the progress of that Bill through its various stages ample opportunity for discussion would be afforded.

SIR WILLIAM JOLLIFFE

said, he thought it was hardly fair to bring forward such Motions without due notice on the part i, the Treasury. As regarded the Resolution, he could not perceive whether the relaxation would extend to distillers as well as brewers, and include molasses as well as sugar.

MR. J. WILSON

said, sugar was at present permitted to be used in distilleries, and it was hot intended to revoke that permission.

COLONEL DUNNE

said, the permission to use sugar in breweries was only granted upon the scarcity or corn. It made a very bad substitute for malt; anti as it was only a temporary regulation he did not see why it should be continued. Resolved— 1. "That, towards raising the Supply granted to Her Majesty, there shall be charged and paid, for and upon all agar which, on or after the 6th day of July 1854, shall be used in any part of the United Kingdom, by any brewer of beer for sale, in the brewing or making of beer, the Duty of seven shillings for every hundred-weight, and at and after the like rate for any greater or less quantity than a hundred-weight of such Sugar, to be payable and paid by such brewer in lieu of the Duty of Excise chargeable thereon under the third section of the Act 13 & 14 Vict. c. 67, or of any Duty of Excise substituted for the last-mentioned Doty, but over and above all other Duties, whether of Excise or Customs. Resolved— 2. "That, towards raising the Supply granted to Her Majesty, there shall be charged and paid upon a Licence to be taken out annually by every brewer of beer for sale, who shall intend to use any Sugar in the brewing or making of beer, the Duty of one pound. House resumed; Resolution to be reported To-morrow. The House adjourned at half after Five o'clock.