§ MR. PULLERsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is the intention of the French Government to impose any Duty on the export of Rags from France when the existing prohibition shall be removed, and if so, the amount of such Duty; and whether any steps have been taken, or will be taken, by Her Majesty's Government for obtaining a free export of Rags from those countries in which the export is now either prohibited or restricted by heavy duties— namely, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Spain, and Portugal.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, he had to state that Her Majesty's Government had heard from our Ambassador at Paris that it was pretty certain that there would be a duty on the export of rags from France; but that he had not been able to ascertain what the amount would be. It was, however, hoped that the duty would not be 341 large. With regard to the second question of the hon. Gentleman, Her Majesty's Government would take steps to obtain, if possible, a free export of rags from the other countries named in the inquiry.