§ Mr. W. HIRSTasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total advantage expressed as shillings per cwt. of sugar, including the subsidy on molasses, the subsidy on sugar, and the difference between the Excise Duty and the Customs Duty enjoyed by the home sugar-beet industry as against the similar product of the Briitsh sugar refiners?
Mr. GUINNESSThe total advantage expressed as shiillings per cwt. of sugar varies in each case. The subsidy on sugar of over 98 degrees polarisation is 19s. 6d. per cwt., and the difference between the Excise and the Customs Duty is 4s. 3d. on sugar of like polarisation. To this must be added the advantage upon the quantity of molasses produced per cwt. of sugar with the appropriate rate of subsidy and the difference in Excise Duty and Customs Duty. This is based upon the average test of sweetening matter in each consignment of molasses delivered from the factory, the rates of subsidy and Excise Duty vary according to such sweetening mutter. The sweetening matter varies according to the sugar extracted. No reliable general average can be given.