HC Deb 14 April 1910 vol 16 cc1389-90
Mr. HAMILTON BENN

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the total amount of the duties charged by the French Government on raw and refined sugar the produce of France, the French Colonies, and Foreign countries, respectively; whether the differentiation, if any, between Foreign and Colonial sugar was permitted by the Brussels Convention; and, if so, whether it would be possible for the British Government, consistently to the obligations under the Brussels Convention, similarly to differentiate between Home-grown, Foreign, and Colonial sugar?

Sir E. GREY

All sugar other than candy, whether manufactured in or imported into France, is subject to an Excise Tax of 25 francs per 100 kilogrammes of its equivalent in refined sugar, and refined sugar is subject, in addition to refining and supervision taxes, which together amount to two francs eight centimes per 100 kilogrammes. No further duty is levied on sugar imported from French colonies and possessions direct, but on sugar imported from foreign countries an additional surtax is levied of five francs fifty centimes per 100 kilogrammes of raw and of six francs per 100 kilogrammes of refined sugar. The answer to the second question is in the affirmative. It is open to the British Government to differentiate between home-grown and other sugar within the limit of six francs per 100 kilogrammes of refined sugar, but by the final protocol to the Sugar Convention of 1902 the British Government declared that no preference would be given to Colonial sugar as against sugar from the contracting States.

Mr. JAMES HOPE

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care that it will not be necessary to put an Excise Duty on homegrown sugar?

Sir E. GREY

Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the answer I have given, and if he has any further questions I should like him to put them afterwards.