HC Deb 13 March 1907 vol 171 cc32-3
*MR. REMNANT (Finsbury, Holborn)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the objections raised by Welsh slate quarry proprietors to the German tariff of 1906; what representations were made to the German Government in view of these objections; what concessions were ultimately accorded; and how does the new duty on slates obtained as the result of these negotiations compare with the rates before the present German tariff came into operation.

I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the value of the exports of Welsh slates to Germany in each of the last five years.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE

Welsh slate quarry proprietors objected to the provision in the new Conventional German tariff that blue or grey slates of less than five millimetres in thickness must be punched with a hole at a certain distance from the edge in order to claim admittance at the reduced rate of sixty-five pfennigs applicable to roofing slate, and to avoid the higher rate of one mark applicable to table slates. If this provi-

Years. From the United Kingdom including Welsh Ports. From Welsh Ports.
Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value.
Tons £ Tons £
1902 24,851 99,958 24,841 99,918
1903 19,977 83,714 19,925 83,519
1904 18,918 81,660 18,917 81,640
1905 17,206 74,001 17,206 74,001
1905 15,657 66,242 15,655 66,230

Slates exported from ports in Wales may be regarded as Welsh slates.

*MR. REMNANT

Is it not the fact that whereas the tariff was 5s. per ton, it is now 6s. 7d.?

MR. LLOYD GEORGE

I have said it has been raised from fifty to sixty-five pfennigs.