HC Deb 03 July 1935 vol 303 cc1864-5
49. Mr. MAINWARING

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will provide a return showing the amount of subsidy given in other producing countries for the production of sugar-beet; the amount of subsidy, if any, granted respectively in other countries to beet-sugar factories; and a return showing the relative scale of operation and costs at each of the 18 beet-sugar factories of this country?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)

As regards the first two parts of the question, State assistance to the sugar-beet industry in other producing countries is normally accorded through the incidence of sugar duties and the regulation of supplies. The combination of these factors, with, in most

STATEMENT showing the State assistance given in certain sugar-beet producing countries in the campaign year, 1934–35.
The figures are based on imported white sugar of a value of 5s. 6d. per cwt. calculated in shillings and decimals of a shilling per cwt. of 112 lb. at gold parities.
Country. Home grown sugar produced and retained for home consumption. Wholesale price for standard granulated sugar, including consumption tax and/or excise duty, which the home industry is permitted to charge. Consumption tax or excise duty. Wholesale value of imported standard granulated sugar. Effective State assistance to the sugar-beet industry.
per cwt. Total.
tons. s. per cwt. s. per cwt. s. per cwt. s. £
Czechoslovakia 400,000 35.35 11.38 5.5 18.47 7,388,000
Denmark 91,000* 21.82 5.98 5.5 10.34 941,000
France 1,050,000 23.97 6.95 5.5 11.52 12,096,000
Germany 1,550,000 37.72 10.44 5.5 21.78 33,759,000
Holland 246,000 35.24 28.31 5.5 8.23† 2,025,000
Hungary 90,000 40.17 18.26 5.5 16.41 1,477,000
Irish Free State 71,000 Import duty of 21s. per cwt. less Excise duty of 4s. 8d. per cwt. 16.33 1,159,000
Italy 330,000 67.02 43.95 5.5 17.57 5,798,000
Poland 325,000 23.42 10.19 5.5 7.73 2,512,000
Spain 300,000 27.79 7.67 5.5 14.62 4,386,000
Sweden 272,000 16.22 — 5.5 10.72 2,916,000
U.S.A. 1,390,000 22.50 — 8.0 14.50 20,155,000
* Small production duo to crop failure. The sugar-beet industry normally supplies the total requirement of 200,000 tons.
† Includes 6.80s. direct subsidy.