§ 25. Mr. REMER (for Mr. HANNON)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been called to Article 2 of the French Tariff Revision Bill, of which a translation appears in the Board of Trade Journal of 17th March, and which sets forth that tariff duties shall be increased or reduced at the end of each quarter by decree of the Council of Ministers in proportion to the increase or reduction of the average wholesale price index number; and, seeing that such revision would create difficulties for British trade in French markets, whether he proposes to make representations 871 with a view to preventing the disturbance in trade which must result if the Article be enacted?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKMy attention has been called to the Article referred to, but I may remind my hon. Friend that the duties are to be altered only if the index number rises or falls by as much as 20 per cent. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer him to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Central Nottingham on the 21st March, a copy of which I am sending him.