HC Deb 22 June 1949 vol 466 cc240-1

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. C. Williams

This is a rather important Clause, which covers a rather large field. I feel sure that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, now that he is back after having refreshed himself with a cup of tea—having missed the speech of the afternoon, which was made by the assistant master in the absence of the schoolmaster, and caused no little excitement among his back benchers—will explain to us what it means. I am glad to see that the right hon. and learned Gentleman is taking notice of that memorable speech, which no doubt added enormously to the high moral standards of the Socialist Party. Will the Chancellor undertake to explain to me what Clause 3 means, because I really do not know what is meant by it?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

This Clause continues for another four years from 16th August next the Customs Duty of £4 per ton in respect of imported hops. This duty was first imposed in 1925 and it comes up, as I think hon. Members will remember, every four years. The present duty ends on the 16th August next, and unless the Committee gives its assent to this Clause, the duty will then lapse. There is a preferential duty of two-thirds of the full rate on Empire hops.

Mr. Williams

I must thank the right hon. Gentleman for his explanation, which I can assure him is quite right. I know that this particular duty goes back to 1925, and the only quarrel which I have about it is not that it was done in 1925, because that was one of the thousands of good things done by the Conservative Party between the two wars, but that it might be better now, when every hon. Member on both sides of the Committee is agreed about the value of this duty, to renew it for a period of 10 years so that it is not necessary to do it quite so often. Can he give us an assurance that after the next Election we shall not find the Socialist Party in Opposition and opposing this duty? I just put that point of view because they said some very naughty things about us, and I want to congratulate them on being converted to this commonsense Conservative point of view on this particular duty.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.