§ 61. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the President of the Board of Trade in what countries of the world import duties are used for purely revenue purposes; what is the level of such duties on the principal commodities of international trade; and which of the countries using these tariffs also have protectionist duties on the same classes of goods?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMIt is not possible to draw any hard and fast line between revenue and other duties except in the case of duties which are levied on goods not produced in the country concerned or which are countervailed by an equivalent excise. Except under those conditions all duties, even though imposed primarily from revenue motives, necessarily have some protective effect. I am not aware of any country in which all the import duties in force are purely revenue duties in the sense that I have indicated.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEFrom the general point of view, will the right hon. Gentleman consider, in view of the success of import duties in other countries, suggesting to the Chancellor of the Exchequer levying such duties in this country?
§ Mr. GRAHAMNo; I could not undertake to make any such proposal. I should think that that would aggravate rather than cure our industrial troubles.
§ Mr. ALBERYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think that Question Time is a suitable time for a fiscal Debate.