§ 19. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether, before the Danish Government increased their customs tariffs upon manufactures of gold, silver and platinum, representations were made by His Majesty's Government that such tariffs would seriously affect the export jewellery trades of this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir. I understand that in order to balance the budget the Danish Government found it necessary to impose further direct taxation and also to increase certain customs duties. The tariff increases were mainly on goods not of interest to United Kingdom trade, and certain cases where our trade was involved have been covered by a concession exempting from the increases goods ordered at the recent exhibition for delivery by the end of this year. The difficulties of trades not covered by this concession are being taken up with the Danish Government.
§ Mr. HANNONDoes the right hon. Gentleman seriously tell the House that 794 the jewellery trade of Birmingham is of no interest to this country? Is he am are that this act of the Danish Government inflicts serious hardship on a, large number of workers in this country?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) agrees that it is a useful policy to put a tax on articles of jewellery?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWhat I said was that the tariff increases were mainly on jewellery not of interest to the United Kingdom trade. I agree that that does not necessarily cover the case of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HANNONSurely in future the right hon. Gentleman will make representations to foreign governments when they are injuring our trade.