§ 57. Sir HERBERT SAMUELasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total cost to the Exchequer in subsidy and rebate of taxation up to the latest date for which figures are available of the assistance given to the beet-sugar industry?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hore-Belisha)The total cost of the beet-sugar subsidy from 1924 to the 31st March, 1932 was £24,335,382, but this figure includes advances amounting to £183,238 made under the British Sugar Industry (Assistance) Act, 1931, which are contingently repayable. The difference between the amount of duty paid in respect of home-grown beet-sugar and the amount which would have been payable on a similar quantity of imported sugar of foreign origin from 1915 to 31st March, 1932, is approximately £9,546,000.