HC Deb 03 April 1873 vol 215 cc527-8
MR. GRIEVE

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his reply— That Her Majesty's Government had received no communication from the French Government on the subject of the application of chemical analysis to the assessment of the Sugar Duty, Whether, the respresentatives of the Conference having undertaken to invite their respective Governments to study the question under this aspect, through competent men, and to communicate between then and the 1st January 1873 the results of these studies, and the Governments of Holland, Belgium, and Great Britain having complied with this invitation, Her Majesty's Government will inquire of the French Government whether it has accepted or declined the invitation; and, whether Her Majesty's Government is aware that, while this question is still pending between the four Powers who are parties to the Convention of 1864, the French Government is proposing to pass a Law containing a provision for the application of chemical analysis to the assessment of the Sugar Duty?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Sir, the French Government have undertaken the inquiry alluded to in the first Question, and it is very near completion. As to the second Question, a Bill has been introduced into the French Assembly for the purpose mentioned; it is a Bill to which we see no sort of objection.