§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the New Ross Urban Council, at a recent meeting, passed a resolution deprecating the increased tax on pickled fish by the United States Government; and whether, as this tax strikes at an Irish industry, the Government will enter into negotiations with the United States Government with a view to lessen or abolish altogether this tax on Irish fish.
§ EARL PERCYThe hon. Member is no doubt referring to the recent practice of levying the tax at a rate calculated on the brine as well as on the fish. By a recent decision of the United States Treasury it has been laid down that the weight of the brine in which salt or pickled fish in barrels is immersed is not part of the dutiable weight of the fish and the tax is accordingly no longer so levied.