§ 26. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received a reply from the Portuguese Government to the communication addressed to it by the British Government last August on the subject of flag discrimination?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)Yes. Sir. His Majesty's Government have received a reply from the Portuguese Government; and it is under consideration. Meanwhile, as my hon. Friend has doubtless observed, the Customs rebates, to the existence of which we have taken objection, were reduced by the Portuguese Government on the 2nd of January from 8 to 6 per cent. for imports and from 16 to 12 per cent. for exports.