§ 46. Mr. MANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade if it is the policy of the Government to make no reductions in tariffs during the next 12 months even in return for reciprocal reductions by foreign Powers?
§ Mr. COLVILLEHis Majesty's Government share the view of the Import Duties Advisory Committee that the duties imposed by the recent Order should not in general be reduced during the next 12 months. In the general interests of United Kingdom trade, however, it may well prove that some modification in them may be found expedient even within that period, if it should prove possible to secure in return important reductions in foreign duties which promise substantial advantages to our export trade.
Mr. WANDERDoes that mean that the Government are prepared to negotiate with foreign countries at once for a mutual reduction of tariffs?
§ Mr. COLVILLEThe hon. Member must study my answer, and then, I hope, be will appreciate the value of tariff bargaining.
§ 57. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Commissioners of Customs have ruled that bristle cannot be regarded as raw hair and is, therefore, subject to the 10 per cent. ad valorem duty; that this decision is based on the fact that imported bristle is disinfected to ensure freedom from anthrax; and will he take steps to ensure that necessary health precautions are not administratively regarded as manufacturing processes?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Elliot)It is not the case that bristles have been ruled to be liable to general ad valorem duty merely because they have been disinfected before being imported. The bristles which have been held to be liable to duty are bristles which have been dressed and sorted or otherwise processed, so that they no longer come within the description "Wool and animal hair (raw) whether cleaned, scoured or carbonised or not," to which the exemption from general ad valorem duty in favour of animal hair is limited.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs it a fact that ordinary bristles if they go through no process other than disinfection are in-eluded in the Free List?
§ Major ELLIOTBristles which come within the definition which I have just read to my hon. Friend would come within the Free List.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the descriptions that he has given do not tally with the trade descriptions, and will he look into the matter and see whether his descriptions can be made to tally with what is in universal use in the trade?
§ Major ELLIOTCertainly.
§ Mr. LAWSONWhy not apply that answer to the Government?