§ 39. Mr. SMITHERSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will call for a report from His Majesty's commercial representatives in Egypt as to the methods adopted by the Egyptian Government of protection against Russian dumping, including cereals, flour, cheese, alcohol, spirits, timber, oleaginous seeds, cattle fodder, leather, leather goods, boots, shoes, furniture, bentwood furniture, sugar, cotton fabrics, pharmaceutical products and soap; and whether His Majesty's Government will consider the adoption of a similar policy?
§ Major COLVILLEI understand that the Egyptian Government have power under a law of 1930 to impose a surtax equal to the amount of the customs duty against the goods of countries which have no commercial agreement with Egypt. By a Ministerial Decree of 3rd November this power has been used against Russian produce and manufactures in cases where similar or competing articles are produced in Egypt. With regard to the second part of the question, I would again point out that the problem of trade with Russia is part of the larger trade problem which is under the examination of the Government.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIf the Egyptian Government have the pluck to take this action, why cannot the British Government? May I have an answer to that question?