§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON (for Mr. James Hope)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that it is the practice of the Deutsche Stahl-werke Verbund to grant an export subsidy of 15 marks per ton on steel billets and bars; that this is frequently supplemented by a further subsidy of 1 mark 50 pfennig, paid by the Westfälische Kohlen Verbund; that the imports of such billets and bars into the United Kingdom in 1908 showed an increase of 71 per cent, over the figures of 1907; whether the Customs Duty on similar articles in Germany is 30 marks per ton; and whether he proposes to take any action to rectify the disadvantage thus occasioned to the British producer?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Tennant)The total imports of steel ingots, blooms, billets, slabs, and sheet and tinplate bars into the United Kingdom in 1908 was greater by 71 per cent, than in 1907, in which latter year the imports were considerably smaller than in any year since 1903. As regards the remaining portion of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question put to me by the hon. Member for Yarmouth on 21st June last. I find, however, that the German Customs Duty on imported steel billets is not stated correctly, the existing duty being I mark 50 pfg. per 100 kilogrammes, or about 15s. per ton.