HL Deb 21 April 1953 vol 181 cc986-7

2.38 p.m.

VISCOUNT GOSCHEN

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Barnby, who has asked me to apologise for his unavoidable absence this afternoon, I beg to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the reply given in the House on the 6th May, 1952, they will state the number of countries which continue to impose export tax on cotton.]

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, there have been several changes in the list of countries and the rates of tax since May, 1952, when my noble friend Lord Lloyd replied to the Question which is referred to in the Question put on behalf of Lord Barnby by my noble friend Lord Goschen. So far as Her Majesty's Government can trace, there are now eighteen territories imposing export taxes on cotton. With the permission of my noble friend Lord Goschen and of the House, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the countries which still impose export taxes on raw cotton and the rates of tax.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, from my knowledge of the situation I understand that some of these Governments include Governments of the Colonial Empire, and I hope that Her Majesty's Government will convey to the Governments of those Colonies the fact that cotton may well become very much a buyer's market by next autumn and that the sooner they get rid of these taxes the better it will be for their own benefit.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Hawke is quite correct in assuming that this list contains certain of the Colonial Territories. Whilst I cannot guarantee, of course, that Her Majesty's Government will convey to them the sentiments expressed by my noble friend Lord Hawke, I can at least guarantee that I will convey them to my right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade.

Following is the table referred to by Lord Mancroft:

Country and Rate of Tax

Belgian Congo, 5.8 pence a lb.

Egypt, 5.1 pence a lb. on medium staple. 7.6 pence a lb. on long staple.

French Equatorial Africa, 18 per cent. ad valorem.

Grenada, 0.1 pence a lb. plus 20 per cent. of gross c.i.f. price in excess of 12d. per lb.

Haiti, 0.2 pence a lb.

India, Comilla—nil. Desi—5.6d. a lb. Others—9.0d. a lb.

Kenya and Uganda, sliding scale from nil to 1.2d. a lb. for prices between 7d. and 13d. a lb. Thereafter duty is increased by 0.24d. a lb. for every increase of ld. a lb. or part thereof.

Leeward Islands:

Mexico, approximately 17 per cent. ad valorem.

Nigeria, approximately 10 per cent. ad valorem.

Pakistan, Comilla and Desi—nil. Others—5.8d. a lb.

Peru, variable. The tax is the amount by which the actual price paid to the producer exceeds an officially estimated cost of production.

Sudan, from 4d. to 5d. a lb. according to type.

Syria, approximately 2.4d. a lb.

St. Vincent, 7½ per cent. ad valorem,.

The above table is as complete as currently available data allow.