HC Deb 15 March 1932 vol 263 cc161-2
7. Mr. HAMILTON KERR

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the exceptional increase in the imports of tea from Java during the first two months of the current year, he will consider the possibility of dealing with such tea importations under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The increase in the imports of tea during the first two months of this year has been almost wholly in imports from India and Ceylon. I have no power to apply the provisions of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act to imports of tea, as this is not an article comprised in Class III of the Import and Export List.