§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is in the power of Parliament to impose any Duty or restriction upon the export of Coal from the United Kingdom, which amounted to 13,200,000 tons in 1872, valued at £10,400,000, against an export of 12,700,000 tons in 1871, valued at £6,200,000; and, if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to propose any such Duty or restriction?
MR. GLADSTONE,in reply, said, it was not in the power of Parliament at the present moment to impose a general and uniform duty upon the export of coal, irrespective of the countries to which it was sent; but of course it was in the power of Parliament to impose such a duty, if it should think fit, in all cases where it was not bound by treaty obligations to a contrary effect. It was bound by treaty obligation not to do so with regard to France, but that obligation would come to a close in the middle of next month. But there was a Treaty with the Zollverein in the year 1865, which imposed a similar obligation; and although the new Treaty with France included no similar obligation, yet until the Treaty with the Zollverein expired, which would not be until 1877, France would be entitled to claim the privilege of "the most favoured nation" in the event of the new Treaty being ratified. There was likewise a Treaty with Austria, under which, in its relation to the Zollverein, Austria would claim exemption from the duty for the next three or four years. Therefore, practically, the proper answer to the Question was that for several years to come, under the Treaties with Germany, Parliament would be prevented from imposing such a duty; but as the hon. Member had included in his Question a reference to policy, he might say that if the hands of the Go- 371 vernment were free they should not ask Parliament to impose such a duty.