§ Mr. FELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he had finally decided to charge Excise duty upon all sugar that may be manufactured from beetroot in this country, and not to grant exemption to the company that proposed to undertake the growth of beet and the manufacture of sugar in Lincolnshire?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEIt will be necessary to charge Excise Duty at rates corresponding to the rates of Customs Duty on sugar manufactured from beetroot in this country, but I propose to allow a reduction from the rates of Customs Duty to compensate for the additional cost of manufacture under Excise restrictions.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEWhy will it be necessary to impose an Excise Duty? Where does the necessity come in?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThe legal necessity. I have got to administer the law.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEUnder what Statute is there any necessity for putting an Excise Duty on home-grown sugar?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI should like notice of that. I cannot for the moment give an answer. I cannot recall the Statute, but so I am informed.
§ Mr. FELLMay I ask if it has not, as a matter of fact, nearly crushed this industry, which it was proposed to establish in Lincolnshire—instead of protecting it?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI do not see how that can be crushed which is not in existence.
§ Mr. THOMAS LOUGHIs there any possibility of setting up the industry except through the Brussels Sugar Convention?