HC Deb 28 April 1908 vol 187 c1090
MR. VILLIERS (Brighton)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has agreed to the renewal of the Sugar Convention; and, if so, for what term of years.

SIR EDWARD GREY

The Convention will be renewed from September next for five years. As has been explained in the Papers laid before Parliament, the conditions have been altered so that His Majesty's Government will no longer be required to penalise bounty-fed sugar.

MR. VILLIERS

asked if the supply of sugar from Russia, though no longer prohibited, was limited.

SIR EDWARD GREY

said that the position was roughly this: Russia had agreed with the other sugar exporting countries to limit her exports of sugar, though this country was not responsible for seeing that this obligation was carried out.

MR. VILLIERS

In view of the fact that at the last general election the Sugar Convention was denounced from thousands of Liberal platforms as limiting the supply of sugar to this country—

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That seems to be a matter for argument.