§ Sir EDWIN CORNWALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can obtain information as to the number of officials engaged and paid out of public funds in connection with the imposition and collection of protective tariffs in France, Germany, and the United States of America respectively?
§ Sir E. GREYI do not suggest that the information desired by my hon. Friend would not be interesting, but I fear it would not be practicable to obtain it, as it would involve a very great amount of labour and a decision in the case of each particular officer as to whether his duties were confined to dealing with Customs duties, and, if so, to what extent the Customs duties were protective; and even then the information obtained would not be very definite.