§ 66. Sir WALTER de FRECEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his statement that the Government reserve the right to propose to Parliament the reduction or abolition of all preferential duties, he proposes to consult the Dominions in any way before taking this step; and, if so, in what way?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI would remind the hon. Member that, speaking generally, existing preferences represent fixed proportions of the current rates of duty, and, as I indicated in the Budget statement, it is not the intention of the Government to propose the reduction or abolition of preferences now accorded, save in so far as it is proposed to reduce or abolish the duties to which they are related. The hon. Member's question does not therefore arise.