§ 3. Sir JOHN POWERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the prices at which the products of industry which are protected by tariffs are being exported have fallen or risen since the duties were imposed?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERFrom inquiries which have been made it appears that in the trades protected by Safeguarding Duties there has, generally speaking, been either no change in export prices since the duty was imposed, or a slight reduction in those prices; and that in trades covered by the McKenna Duties a fall in export prices is still continuing.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERDid the prices in the home market remain in the same condition?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI should like notice of that question, but my recollection is that the answers I have previously given have shown that prices either remained stationary or have fallen.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there not a general reduction in price in all commodities whether protected or not?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI thought the hon. and gallant Gentleman's contention was that if you put on a duty of a third you raised the price.
§ Sir J. POWERHas not the policy of safeguarding actually helped the export trade?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIn many cases the export trade has increased, as would lie expected if you have a larger output.
§ Mr. HARRISThe import prices quoted by the Board of Trade are without the duties on, are they not?
§ Sir F. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI understood the hon. Member's suggestion was that if you put on a duty it raised prices all round and enabled the home manufacturer to raise prices.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that where prices were not raised the duty probably anticipated a fall to the consumer?