§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the duty payable on raw cocoa is from 2s. 3d. to 8s. 6d. per cwt. loss than the duty charged on the product of the same quantity of raw material if imported in a manufactured state.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.An infinite number of combinations of cocoa with other ingredients may be made, and it is therefore impossible to state the exact amount of advantage which may be derived by a manufacturer in this country as compared with a foreign importer. The matter is a complicated one and cannot be dealt with within the limits of a Parliamentary Question and Answer; but, so far as the data which I have enables me to make a calculation, there is an advantage of about 2s. 3d. in favour of the home manufacturer of cocoa powder upon each hundredweight of cocoa beans dealt with, while, in the case of chocolate confectionery of various kinds, there is a similar and often greater advantage, which may, as regards some classes of goods, even reach the higher figure quoted. On the other hand, there is no drawback upon the export of cocoa manufactures.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay upon the Table the Report of the Chairman of the Board of Customs, dated 5th October, 1904, on the working of the cocoa and chocolate duties.
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Paper referred to is a confidential Memorandum prepared for Departmental purposes. I am not prepared to lay it on the Table.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that although the Paper is headed "Confidential" as is every Report by the Chairman of of the Board of Customs to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer was quite prepared to lay it on the Table if desired.
§ MR. ASQUITHI think it would be a very bad precedent, and I do not intend to set it.