§ 11. Mr. MORRISasked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the countries imposing duties on silk and artificial silk and which base those duties upon the domestic prices of those products in the country of origin?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTEROf the countries to which any substantial quantity of silk and artificial silk goods is exported from the United Kingdom, only the following, namely, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the United States of America, levy on such goods, or some classes of them, ad valorem Customs duties based upon the value of the goods for home consumption in the country of origin. I should add that, in estimating the dutiable value on 1270 this basis, Australia, New Zealand and probably also South Africa, make allowance for any drawback of internal duty granted in the country of origin.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNDoes this mean that the United States will impose their duty on the value of the silk manufactured in this country, plus the Excise duty on it?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must take the answer which I have given. If he wants to put a further question, I shall be glad if he will put it down.
§ 12. Mr. MORRISasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of British and foreign artificial silk yarn, respectively, is used in the manufacture of cotton and woollen cloths in this country?
§ 52. Mr. BRIANTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the respective quantities for home and foreign trade of the manufacture of cotton and woollen cloths containing silk or artificial silk?
§ Sir P CUNLIFFE-LISTERI regret that the information desired by the hon. Members is not available.
§ Captain BENNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already given us an estimate of the amount of revenue that he proposes to raise from this tax?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat does not seem to me to bear any relation to the Questions on the Paper.
§ Captain BENNIf it is not possible to state how much of a dutiable article comes in, how can the Chancellor of the Exchequer tell us what the yield of the duty will be?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERPerhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will consult with his hon. friends. That is not the question on the Paper. The hon. and gallant Gentleman is asking for a detailed analysis of a particular fraction of a particular section of a portion of the trade of the country.
6. Mr. SANDEMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the new duties on silk and artificial silk, he has any information as to the employment of foreign capital in this country for the production of the same?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have no special information on this subject.
§ 53. Mr. BRIANTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has formed any estimate of the annual amount of drawback to which the Treasury will be liable under the Silk Duties?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is not possible to estimate accurately the total amount of drawback that will be payable. But the estimates of revenue contained a margin in order to cover the drawbacks on such goods as well as other factors that could not be definitely measured.