HC Deb 07 July 1927 vol 208 cc1575-6

For the purpose of calculating the duty on sugar refined in the United Kingdom, such sugar shall be deemed, notwithstanding anything in Section eight of the Finance Act, 1919, to be an Empire product to the extent of one-third of its value, and accordingly sugars refined in the United Kingdom shall be charged for Customs Duty at preferential rates representing the full rates of Customs Duty for the time being in force reduced by one-third of the respective amounts specified in the said second column of Part I of the Third Schedule to the Finance Act, 1925.—[Mr. Hannon.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Mr. HANNON

You were good enough to say, Captain FitzRoy, that I should be allowed to move this new Clause formally. I shall content myself with simply asking the Government to take this new Clause into consideration before the next Finance Bill—

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN (Captain FitzRoy)

It is not in order for the hon. Member to speak without moving the Clause.

Mr. HANNON

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

I have already promised that I will move the Clause formally, and I appeal to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to remember that this is a question of profound importance to a large number of workpeople in this country. I hope that before the next Finance Bill is introduced the Chancellor of the Exchequer will take into consideration all the aspects of the Sugar Duty, and extend to the sugar refiners of this country the proportion of the Preference to which they are entitled. This industry is at the present moment in a very parlous state, and surely the Government is not going to permit it to be destroyed simply by refusing a concession of the kind we seek in this new Clause.

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER

I should like to ask you, Captain FitzRoy, if we shad be allowed to repeat our arguments upon this question?

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN

That would not be in order, because we have already had a full discussion of this subject on a previous new Clause.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I do not think, under the circumstances, I shall be expected to make another speech on this question. The difficulties created by this new Clause have been very clearly put before the Committee, and I do not think it is necessary for me to repeat them.

Question, "That the Clause be read a Second time," put and negatived.