§ 58. Sir K. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will furnish to the House in the form of a White Paper the communications he has recently addressed to France and other countries proposing tariff reductions; and whether he has yet received any reply to such communications?
§ 59. Sir W. BRASSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give particulars of the request made by the British Government to the German Government to make reductions in their tariff on certain imports from this country; and in what respects the British Government are prepared to impose a tariff in the event of the German Government refusing this request?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Shinwell)As regards the substance of the proposals which His Majesty's Government have addressed to certain foreign Governments I can add nothing to the reply returned yesterday to the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon). These proposals were submitted for the confidential consideration of the Government concerned and clearly cannot be 1247 made public at this stage. No replies have yet been received. As regards the second part of the question by the hon. and gallant Member for Clitheroe (Sir W. Brass) it is impossible within the limits of question and answer to discuss the entire fiscal policy of this country.
§ Sir K. WOODCan the hon. Member state when the President proposes to make a statement on this matter?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI have no information on that point.
§ Sir W. BRASSCan the hon. Member assure the House that no promise has been made by the Government to maintain Free Trade principles in this country for any length of time in the future?