§ MR. RITCHIEasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether any steps have been taken by the Dutch Government, on representations made to them by Her Majesty's Government in February last, in reference to the importation into Holland of artificially-coloured raw sugar, and the consequent increase in the bounty on the exportation of refined sugar from that country?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINThe representations of the British Sugar Refiners' Committee as to the increase of duty bounty on the exportation of sugar from Holland were communicated to Her Majesty's Minister at the Hague by the Foreign Office on the 14th of March last. No answer has been received, and the Board of Trade are not aware of any steps having been taken by the Dutch Government in the matter.
§ MR. RITCHIEWill the right hon. Gentleman ask for an answer?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI do not think it is a case in which we should feel ourselves justified in pressing for an answer at the present time. We thought it right to communicate the observations made by the Refiners' Association for their information, but not by way of remonstrance; and I may take the opportunity of adding that, as far as our information goes, the exportation of refined sugar from Holland to this country has not recently increased.