§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if the rates of import duties levied in European countries, in the United States, and in Japan upon the produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom still remain at the average rate detailed in the last official return, namely, Russia, 131 per cent.; Spain, 76 per cent.; United States, 73 per cent.; Portugal, 71 per cent.; Austria-Hungary, 35 per cent.; France, 34 per cent.; Argentina, 28 per cent.; Italy, 27 per cont.; Germany, 25 per cent.; Sweden, 23 per cent.;; Greece, 19 per cent.; Denmark 18 per cent.; Roumania, 14 per cent.; Belgium, 13 per cent.; Norway, 12 per cent.; Japan, 9 per cent.; and what steps it is proposed to take to secure for British goods in those countries the free market given to foreign goods in the United Kingdom.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGESince the publication of the return referred to a new tariff has come into force in Norway, and now tariffs come into force to-day in Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary and Roumania. There have also been some modifications of the Belgium, Italian and Argentina tariffs. In the other countries named the tariffs remain unchanged. The last part of the Question cannot be dealt with within the limits of an Answer, but His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the importance of securing all the advantages possible for British trade in foreign markets.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTAre the figures given in the Question generally correct?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThey are not correct.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTAre the duties higher now than they were? This, is a very important question.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEIn some respects they are higher, and in other respects lower.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTIn what respects?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe hon. Member must know, with all respect to him, that this is a very absurd question. There are about 900 classses of German goods in the tariff, and I cannot go through them in the course of an Answer.
§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEY (Paddington, N.)Is it not the case that the prosperity of the countries mentioned in the Question is in inverse ratio to the high tariffs?
§ [No Answer was returned.]