26. Captain P. MAC DONALDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the recent restrictions imposed by Germany and Belgium on the imports of British coal amount to discrimination against this country, he will consider the advisability of taking immedate action, under Section 12 of the Import Duties Act, to recommend the imposition of increased duties on German and Belgian goods entering this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANDiscussions are in progress with the German Government and the Belgian Government with regard to their restrictions on the importation of United Kingdom coal. The question of possible retaliatory action does not therefore arise at this stage.
Captain MACDONALDHow long does this Government intend to allow other Governments to repudiate their treaty obligations?
§ Mr. BATEYCannot the right hon. Gentleman tell us when he expects that 1704 the discussions are likely to come to an end?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid I cannot mention any definite date. We are pressing both Governments on the subject.
§ Mr. BATEYHave not these negotiations been going on for several weeks? We always get the same answer, which leads us nowhere.
Captain MACDONALDDid not the right hon. Gentleman say that this Clause in the Import Duties Bill was for retaliatory purposes?
§ 35. Lieut.-Colonel WINDSOR-CLIVEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give an estimate of the increase in the import of foreign carpets into this country which will follow the reduction in the duty imposed under the Abnormal Importations Act?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to forecast the future course of importations of particular descriptions of goods affected by the Import Duties Act.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MOOREDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that since the duty was reduced a considerable increase has taken place in the import of foreign carpets?
§ 59. Mr. PETHERICKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the doubt regarding the interpretation by the customs authorities of the additional import duties imposed under No. 1 Order, 1932, if he will give a definite ruling to the customs officials as to whether the additional duties are to be levied on certain timber products under Group VII, notably boxes imported in shooks form?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Elliot)Box boards as such are not regarded as liable to the additional duties imposed under the Additional Import Duties No. 1 Order, 1932, on manufactures of wood and timber, but if imported with the appropriate number of tops and bottoms, sides and ends to make complete boxes they are regarded as liable to an additional duty of 10 per cent. The necessary instructions on this point have been issued to customs officers.
§ Mr. HICKSCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us what is meant by the phrase, "in shooks form"?