§ Mr. RICEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will explain why hides from imported cattle which are slaughtered at the ports are, on exportation, classed in the British Trade Returns as British hides; and whether, in view of the importance of the ascertainment of this information, he will make inquiries as to what proportion of the exports of hides are of this category?
Mr. BUXTONAll goods which undergo any process of manufacture or alteration in this country, other than sorting, repacking, or blending, are on exportation classified as exports of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom. A substantially similar practice is adopted by all the principal commercial countries in the classification of their exports. I will communicate with the Commissioners of Customs and Excise with a view to seeing whether anything can be done towards meeting the point raised in the last part of the question.