asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total levy and duty payable per ton on sugar and sugar products exported to Britain (1) before and (2) after the 1956 arrangement, and the total amount paid by way of (a) levy and (b) duty on sugar and sugar products exported to Britain in each of the years 1955 to 1960 inclusive and from January to June, 1961.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Levy and Duty on Sugar and Sugar Products.
36.
The Trade Agreements with Britain were concluded in 1938, 1948 and 1960 and I am not aware of the 1956 arrangement to which the Deputy refers in his Question.
In July, 1961, the British customs and excise duties on sugar were increased by 10 per cent ad valorem and as a result the preferential rate applicable to Irish sugar was raised from the rate previously chargeable of 5/10 per cwt. to 6/5 per cwt. The levy imposed under the British Sugar Act, 1956, applies to all sugar and goods containing sugar entering or produced in the United Kingdom. The present rate of sugar levy is 18/8 per cwt. In the case of sugar products the amount of the duty and levy varies according to the sugar content and the nature of the product.
I am not in a position to furnish the information asked for in the latter part of the Question.
37.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will now state the result of his discussions with the British Government on the removal of the levy placed on sugar and sugar products exported to Britain.
The discussions with the British authorities on the question of the conditions applying to the importation of Irish sugar and sugar products into Britain have not been concluded.