HC Deb 28 May 1907 vol 174 c1472
MR. MOND (Chester)

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state what would be the approximate increase in the cost of collecting the Customs on the basis, of a preferential duty of 2s. per quarter on wheat, 5 per cent. on other foodstuffs, and 10 per cent. on manufactured goods.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.

No, Sir. I have no material for forming a reliable estimate, particularly as regards the last category, which, in the absence of a definition of what may be held to constitute a state of "manufacture," is somewhat indeterminate.