§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the tax upon sugar is the only one of the food taxes consequent on the South African war that is still in force; what sum it has amounted to yearly from its first imposition to 31st March last; and, having regard to the pressure of this tax upon the poor and upon manufacturing industries, whether the Committee now supervising all industries consider that the amount of this tax is more than counterbalanced by its general detrimental effect?
§ Mr. ACLANDIf the hon. Member refers to taxation imposed upon articles exempt from taxation before the South African war, the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am unable to state in anticipation of my right hon. Friend's financial statement the net amount of duty received from the tax on sugar in the year ending 31st March last. The net receipts for previous years front the date of imposition were as follows:—
1901–2 … … … £6,464,000 1902–3 … … … 4,567,000 1903–4 … … … 5,809,000 1904–5 … … … 6,204,000 1905–6 … … … 6,281,000 1906–7 … … … 6,368,000 1907–8 … … … 6,842,000 1908–9* … … … 3,237,000 1909–10 … … … 3,024,000 1910–11 … … … 3,026,000 1911–12 … … … 3,127,000 1912–13 … … … 3,109,000 1913–14 … … … 3,329,000 * Rate of duty reduced in 1908.
I am not aware that any Committee is sitting which could usefully be consulted as to the last part of the question.