Sulphate of Ammonia

HC Deb 25 July 1957 vol 574 c570

9. Mr. Willey

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will withdraw the Customs Duty on imported sulphate of ammonia.

Sir D. Eccles

If an application for removal of this duty is made by users, I will consider it.

Mr. Willey

In any case, will the right hon. Gentleman look at this again, because the users have the benefit of a subsidy? Surely he is aware that this sulphate of ammonia is marketed by a very tight monopoly, and that we have no reflection in this country of the sharp falling of prices in America and all Europe.

Sir D. Eccles

The figures do not seem to bear out what the hon. Gentleman has just said. United Kingdom production is running at about one million tons per annum, and imports in the first five months of this year were fifty tons.