HC Deb 10 May 1933 vol 277 cc1515-7
37. Captain STRICKLAND

asked the President of the Board of Trade the grounds on which in the Trade Agreement with Denmark it has been decided under Article 2 to accord to Danish goods the privilege of preference irrespective of the country of shipment to the United Kingdom, having regard to the fact that Imperial preference only applies to goods produced in and consigned from Empire countries?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. Article 2 of the commercial agreement with Denmark does not accord any tariff preference to Danish goods.

38. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether before including in the projected trade agreement with Norway any concessions in respect of the importaLion of Norwegian kerb-stone, he will consult with the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Labour in connection with the arrangements which have been made for the increased production of kerb-stone in this country?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

In view of the provisions of Article 4 of the Ottawa Trade Agreement with India, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are precluded from making any reduction in the existing duty on imported kerb-stones of granite, to which it is assumed my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. BURNETT

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman bear in mind the durable and ornamental properties of Aberdeen granite?

43. Mr. REMER

asked the Minister of Agriculture what answer he has given to the telegram sent to him from the Cheshire Cheese Federation intimating the disadvantages of the Danish Trade Agreement to dairy farmers?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Major Elliot)

I have pointed out to the Federation that cheese is not mentioned in the agreement referred to, and in explaining the position generally, I have reiterated the assurance that the agreement does not in any way fetter the power of His Majesty's Government to continue with the development of its agricultural policy.

31. Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the reasons for the inclusion of electric clock movements among the complete clock movements upon which reductions of duty have been made under the new German Agreement; and why a different policy was observed in regard to whole clocks?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

The inclusion of electric clock movements in the German Agreement was due to a clerical error, which has since been rectified by an exchange of notes with the German Government. My hon. Friend will have observed that the Resolution passed by the House last week did not provide for a reduction of the duty on electric clock movements.

32. Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the foreign delegates with whom he negotiated the new trade agreements with Germany, Denmark, Argentina, Norway, and Sweden were requested not to convey any information with regard to the negotiations in question to the trade interests concerned in their own countries and, if so, what form such request took?

Lieut.-Colonel C0LVILLE

It was agreed with each of the trade delegations that the substance of the agreements reached should not be disclosed until the text of the agreements could be published in both countries.

Mr. HALL-CAINE

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that accompanying the Swedish delegation were two gentlemen who were expert advisers, and that there was no delegation of corresponding trade interests from this side; and does he think that that is quite fair?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

I concluded that the lion. Gentleman referred to making known matters that are under negotiation. I have already answered that.