§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the rate of the bounty paid by Canada on the export of pig iron and steel, and the quantity of this bounty-fed iron and steel imported into this country during the last two years.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI know of no bounties on the export of Canadian pig iron and steel. Bounties are given on the production of pig iron and of steel ingots and puddled iron bars made 9 from such pig iron. Up to April, 1902, the rates were $3 per ton of 2,000 lbs., except on pig iron produced from foreign ores which received $2. Between 1902 and 1907 the bounties are subject to continuous reduction, and the rates at present payable are 90 per cent. of those ,quoted above. The quantity of Canadian pig iron exported to this country in the years 1900–1901 was 1,603 tons. The corresponding total for 1901–1902 is provisionally stated as 100,519 tons. The Canadian accounts do not separately distinguish the exports either of steel ingots or puddled iron bars.
§ MR. LOUGHHave the Government any intention of imposing countervailing duties for the protection of our manufactures against this bounty-fed iron and steel?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo, Sir.