§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the report is correct that the Conferences held in Paris on the Sugar Duties have resulted in the conclusion of a fresh Convention; and, if so, what are the provisions of the new Convention?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the Conference has agreed upon a Convention, which contains three terms, which are as follows:—1. That sugars are not to be assessed by colour only, but by strength, which may, if necessary, be ascertained by analysis, or by any means Government may choose to adopt, and that when so tested, if the strength prove sufficient, the sugar may be raised to a higher class. 2. That 1718 Belgium and other countries producing beet-root sugar, and charging duty thereon by the density of the juice, are to raise the charge for duty from 1,500 to 1,600 degrees. 3. That France is to put her Duties and Drawbacks into co-relation, as required by the Convention in 1864. There is no article relating to refining in bond.
§ MR. J. B. SMITHasked how long this Convention would be in force?