HC Deb 11 August 1881 vol 264 cc1537-8
VISCOUNT SANDON

asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he can state how soon the translation of the new French Tariff, ordered on July 6th, and the first portion of the Return ordered on April 6th, showing the increase or decrease in the Duties leviable on the leading articles of British produce and manufacture, in the years 1860–1870, 1873, and 1880, by the principal countries of the world and by the British Colonies, will be in the hands of honourable Members?

MR. CHAMBERLAIN

, in reply, said, that the first Return in question was laid on the Table on Tuesday. The second Return was a very difficult one to prepare, involving much time and labour, and it was impossible to in trust it to ordinary clerks. It had to be very carefully revised by the superior clerks of the Department. There were 70 or 80 pages of it in type, however, and he proposed to present it to the House as soon as it was received.