Mr. KINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any estimate has been made of the protective character of the existing cocoa duties; if so, whether an estimate can be given of the amount of the protection granted to British cocoa manufacturers; and whether he will take this matter into consideration in framing his forthcoming Budget?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI cannot make any statement with regard to existing taxes in anticipation of the financial statement which I shall make next week.
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the resolutions passed at the meeting on Monday last of traders in dutiable goods, representing an annual trade of £25,000,000, protesting against the dislocation of business caused by the annually recurring uncertainty as to the date of the Budget, and asking that, by mutual arrangement between the Government and the Opposition, a definite date should for future years be fixed before which the Budget should be introduced; and whether he will take steps accordingly?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have received copies of the resolutions referred to, and I will consider the suggestion put forward.
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made any investigation into the loss caused to importers of dutiable goods when reductions of duty are effected by the Budget without granting a full rebate upon goods which have paid the higher rate of duty; whether he is aware that upon the reduction of the sugar duty in 1907 the sugar importers of the United Kingdom incurred losses originally estimated at some £40,000, but subsequently ascertained to reach nearly £80,000, through being obliged to sell sugar which had paid the higher rate in competition against sugar which only paid the lower rate; and whether, in the event of any reduction upon any dutiable import being made in the forthcoming Budget, he will provide for such a full rebate?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI believe that the only occasion in recent years when a rebate was allowed on stocks of dutiable goods was on the repeal of the Corn Duty in 1904. The more usual practice, which is at least equally effective, is to give sufficient notice of a reduction of duty to prevent loss being incurred. In some cases special arrangements have been made for granting temporary bonding facilities.
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that on the last occasion, in 1907, the number of days allowed for realisation of stocks was only ten, of which two were Sundays, and that the trade at the time said at least from six to eight weeks were necessary.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI cannot quite recall. I received several deputations from them at the time, but I could not tell the hon. Gentleman at the present time whether his statement gives a fair account of what occurred.
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the matter from that point of view?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEWell, yes, I will.