§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been 881 called to the fact that under the new Swiss general tariff the imports into Switzerland during 1906 of raw materials increased by 220,000 tons, while the imports of manufactures decreased by 36,000 tons, and that as a result of the application of the new tariff there was a considerable increase in the revenue derived from the Customs in 1906, while more foodstuffs and natural products were imported at a reduced cost; and whether he can give any information as to the amount of unemployment, if any, prevalent in Switzerland.
§ Mr. KEARLEYThe statements as to the increase in the weight of raw materials, and decrease in the weight of manufactures imported into Switzerland in 1906 are approximately correct, and it is also the case that the Customs revenue of Switzerland in 1906 was greater than in the previous year. The suggestion that more foodstuffs were imported at a reduced cost is, however, not well founded. Omitting wine, it appears that both the quantity and the value of foodstuffs imported increased, and there was an increase in the prices of such important articles as wheat and other cereals, and live and dead meat. Statistics of unemployment are not officially published in Switzerland.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe figures in the Question were taken from the Board of Trade Returns.