§ Major POLEasked the Secretary of State for India if he is now in a position to state whether the Government of India propose to take any action following the endorsement by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research in India of the proposal in the interim Report of the sugar committee that the present ad valorem duty on low-grade sugar should be converted into a specific duty and also of the recommendation of the sugar committee that the general question of import duties on sugar should be referred by the Government of India to the Tariff Board for investigation?
§ Mr. BENNThe Finance Act recently passed substituted for the 25 per cent.ad valorem duty on low grade sugar a new duty of 25 per cent. ad valorem plus Rs. 1½ per hundredweight. This change was consequential on an increase by Rs. 1½ per hundredweight of the duty on higher grade sugar, and I do not know whether it was in any way connected with any recommendation of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research. As regards the latter part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 18th February.