asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total quantity and value of the preparations made from rice husks to which Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 87) Order, 1935, refers, imported into the Saorstát during the 12 months ended the 31st December, 1934; and if he will state the amount of Customs duties which it is estimated will be collected during the financial year ended 31st March, 1936, as a result of the duty of 2/- per cwt. imposed by this Order, and if he will state whether the duty has been imposed for the purpose (1) of increasing the revenue derived from Customs duties, or (2) of increasing industrial production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duties on Rice.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total quantity and value of rice, rice flour, and rice meal, to which Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 87) Order, 1935, refers, imported into Saorstát Eireann during the 12 months ended the 31st December, 1934, and the total amount of Customs duties paid thereon; and if he will state the amount of Customs duties which it is estimated will be collected during the financial year ended 31st March, 1936, as a result of the increased duty of 4/- a cwt. imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 87) Order, 1935; and if he will state whether this duty has been imposed for the purpose (1) of increasing the revenue derived from Customs duties, or (2) of increasing industrial production.
I propose to answer questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. No information is available as regards the quantity and value of preparations made from rice husk to which the Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 87) Order, 1935, refers, imported during the 12 months ended the 31st December, 1934. It is not anticipated that there will be any appreciable revenue collected from imports of rice husk preparations. The exemption of preparations made from rice husk from the Customs duty chargeable under the Finance Act, 1935, Section 11 and Second Schedule, reference No. 6, was found in actual practice to serve no useful purpose, and advantage was taken of the revision of the duty on rice, rice flour and rice meal to withdraw the exemption. In effect the withdrawal of the exemption has helped industrial production.
During the 12 months ended the 31st December, 1934, the quantity and value of rice, rice flour and rice meal, to which Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 87) Order, 1935, refers, imported into Saorstát Eireann were:—
|
ARTICLE |
Quantity |
Value |
|
cwts. |
£ |
|
|
Rice |
50,524 |
32,377 |
|
Rice Flour and Rice Meal |
24,839 |
11,248 |
|
75,363 |
43,625 |
These articles were not liable to any duty of Customs prior to the 16th May, 1935. The duty of 2/- per cwt. imposed as from that date by the Finance Act, 1935, Section 11 and Second Schedule, reference No. 6, was increased to 4/- per cwt. as from the 16th November, 1935, as regards ground rice and rice flour for the purpose of increasing industrial production, and it is not anticipated that any appreciable revenue will be collected as the result of the increased duty.
To what extent has industrial production been increased by withdrawals of exemptions?
That question should be addressed to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
The Minister is aware that the Minister for Industry and Commerce does not know. Will the Minister for Finance say if he has taken into consideration, in increasing the duty on rice to 4/-, the amount of the increased burden that will be imposed on the poorer classes of the community?