§ I have one or two small changes to make in the realm of Customs and Excise. The first of them is designed to give protection to a branch of British industry whose product has hitherto been associated almost exclusively with foreign countries. I refer to lager beer. I see no reason why the manufacture of lager beer in this country should be an exception to the general rule of protection for British industries, and accordingly I am proposing to achieve my purpose by imposing a surtax of £1 a barrel upon beer imported from non - Empire countries. There will be no change in the Customs Duty on beer imported from Empire countries. Then I shall have a Resolution to cover a Clause in the Finance Bill to continue a provision in the Finance Act, 1926, which stabilised the existing preference margins on certain Empire products. I shall have also to deal with a technical point on the polariscopic test of sugar.
§ The Key Industry duties will expire this year, and in view of that fact a Committee was appointed last year to review these duties and to recommend whether they should be continued or amended. The report of the Committee has now been published, and they recommend a continuance of the duties for another 10 years, with certain additions and modifications and with a provision for variation of the duties in certain circumstances from time to time. I am able to announce that the Government have decided to adopt these recommendations. They will be embodied in the Finance Bill, and the necessary Resolutions are being tabled.
§ Later there will be another Resolution to enable the Exchequer to receive the benefit of surplus income or capital appreciation arising from the investment under the guarantee of the Consolidated Fund, of what is known as suitors' cash, which is a small portion of the funds paid into or deposited with the High Court in accordance with various Acts of Parliament. The main question which arises is whether this surplus, which amounts to about £60,000 a year, should be paid into the Exchequer or whether it should remain as at present accumulating indefinitely without any adequate object. I think the Committee will appreciate that my view is that it should be paid 51 into the Exchequer, and I am proposing to take action accordingly, but I may say that that action will be in strict conformity with the recommendations of a Committee, known as the Committee on Dormant Funds, which was presided over by that very much lamented and distinguished Law Lord, the late Lord Tomlin.