§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if the new tariff coming into force to-morrow in All the Russias against British goods increases the duties on the same scale as applied to medicines, namely, from 24 to 40 roubles per pood, the bottles, tins, and paper in which the medicines are packed being included in the weight for duty; and having regard to the effect such increased duties will have upon British trade with Russia, what representations have been made to St. Petersburg on the subject, and with what result.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The increase in the Russian duty on medicines from 24 to 40 roubles, referred to in the Question, will not be applied to British goods, since the existing rate of 24 roubles has been conceded to France under the new Russo-French Commercial Treaty, and can consequently be claimed by British exporters in virtue of the most-favoured-nation provision of the Anglo-Russian Treaty.