HC Deb 19 February 1929 vol 225 cc922-4
2. Mr. HANNON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of the duties now imposed by the Swiss Government upon handkerchiefs, household goods of linen, coarse and fine cotton goods and articles for domestic use manufactured from jute or hemp imported into Switzerland from Great Britain; and whether, as articles of a similar nature are imported from Switzerland into this country free of duty, he proposes to take appropriate retaliatory measures?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I understand that a full answer to my hon. Friend's question would occupy from three to four pages of the OFFICIAL REPORT, and I hardly think it justifiable to take up so much space. If, however, my hon. Friend will specify any particular class of goods in which he is specially interested I shall endeavour to send him the particulars he desires. I ought at the same time to point out that, except in one case, the duties in question have been in force since 1921, that the general level of the Swiss tariff is lower than that of most European countries, and that I have received no serious complaints from British manufacturers as to the incidence of these duties. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Mr. HANNON

Is it not a fact, notwithstanding that the duties are low, that there is difficulty in getting British goods into Switzerland where an article of the same kind is produced in Switzerland?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

As a matter of fact, the level of Swiss duties is very low, and I wish that other European countries had duties equally low.

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER

Is it not a fact that in the case of some of the goods mentioned—handkerchiefs and linen goods—there was an inquiry, and that the application for a duty was unanimously turned down?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I do not understand the question. The question I was asked was, what was the tariff in Switzerland upon goods going into Switzerland?

Mr. ALEXANDER

The question was whether the right hon. Gentleman was prepared to take retaliatory measures?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I have answered that question.

Mr. CRAWFURD

Is it not a fact that in the report of the inquiry already mentioned it was stated that these goods were not imported into this country at prices lower than those with which our manufacturers could compete?