HC Deb 20 June 1890 vol 345 cc1473-5
MR. HOWARD VINCENT

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, by the Tariff Bill passed by the House of Representatives of the United States nemine con-tradicente, and only awaiting the confirmation of the Senate and President to come into force, it is proposed to increase the duties on Sheffield pocket knives to 100 per cent, ad valorem from 50 per cent, as now, on Sheffield razors to 75 per cent, ad valorem from 50 per cent., on Sheffield carving and cooks' knives to 70 per cent, ad valorem from 35 per cent, as now, on Sheffield table cutlery to 50 per cent, instead of 35 per cent, as now, on Sheffield scissors and shears to 45 per cent, instead of 35 per cent, as now, on Birmingham breech loading guns from 80 per cent, to 100 per cent, ad valorem; and if analogous prohibitive duties are placed by the Bill upon other productions of Great Britain, and notably of South Wales, Lancashire, Glasgow, and Belfast?

MR. H. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN (Kent, Faversham)

It is also posroped by the Tariff Bill to increase the duty on hops.

SIR J. FERGUSSON

I cannot say offhand whether it is proposed to alter the duty on hops. In reply to the question on the Paper, I stated, in answer to a somewhat similar question on the 6th of May, that It appears to he intended in the new Tariff Rill, submitted to the House of Representatives of the United States, on the whole to increase the Import Duties on Sheffield cutlery and edged tools from 50 to 100 per cent., though in some classes of edged tools a decrease seems to be intended. Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to judge what the amount of value will be. The duties on the productions of the other districts named in the question will also be increased; but as in certain instances the basis of duty—namely, from ad valorem to weight—is altered, it is not prudent to hazard an opinion what the rate of increase will really be, nor whether the new rates will be "prohibitive duties" We must, however, assume that the effect will be to enhance the existing duties.

MR. HOWARD VINCENT

I beg to give notice, in consequence of the answer of my right hon. Friend to this question, and also to my previous one, that as the American Tariff proposals will inflict great injury upon the trade of Sheffield and upon British traders and artisans in other parts of the country, I shall, if they are carried into operation, invite the House to consider, as soon as practicable, whether a free market should be longer given to the competing productions of a foreign State putting prohibitive duties upon British goods.