§ 15. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total imports during the first three months, respectively, of 1925 and 1926 of all the goods on which new Customs duties were imposed by the legislation of 1925 and also the total exports of the same commodities during the same periods?
§ Mr. R. McNEILLAs far as the information is available, the figures required are being collected, and I will forward them to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ 17. Mr. WELLSasked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of musical instruments on which duty is now chargeable and that have been imported during the first three months of 1925 as compared with the first three months of this year; and the amount of duty that has been collected during the latter period?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe total value of complete musical instruments imported during the period 1st January to 31st March, 1925, was£301,847. The total value of such articles imported during the corresponding period in this year was£77,337, and the net amount of duty collected£24,912.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the musical instrument makers in this country are working more regularly than they were in the same period during 1925?
§ Mr. McNEILLI cannot say that.
§ Colonel APPLINIn view of the success of this tax on foreign goods, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of approaching the Prime Minister with regard to his pledges for safeguarding other industries?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe fiscal Debates will come later.
§ 18. Mr. WELLSasked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of watches and clocks on which duty is now chargeable that have been imported during the first three months of 1925 as compared with the first three months of this year; and the amount of duty that has been collected during the latter period?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe total value of complete clocks and watches imported during the period 1st January to 31st March, 1925, was£610,453. The total value of such articles imported during the corresponding period in this year was£174,529 and the net amount of duty collected£53,255.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there has been any improvement in the jewellery trade of this country this year compared with last year?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAre the increases for 1925 not due to the fact, that there was a great rush of imports, in view of the imposition of this tax?
§ Mr. McNEILLI can only give the facts; I cannot say to what they were due.
§ 19. Mr. WELLSasked the President of the Board of Trade the total value and the number of motor cars on which duty is now chargeable that have been imported into this country during the first three months of 1925 as compared with the first three months of this year; and the amount of duty that has been collected during the latter period?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe number of complete motor cars liable to duty imported during the period 1st January to 31st March of this year was 2,669 and their value£459,042. The net amount of duty collected during this period was£128,229. The number of complete motor cars of descriptions now within the charge of duty imported during the corresponding period in 1925 was 7,531 and their value£1,386,798.
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members must reserve their fiscal opinions.