§ 54. Sir BASIL PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that, since the signing on the 15th May last of the trade agreement with Norway, in which the Government undertook not to 546 increase the present tariff on granite setts and kerbs above 15 per cent., in four months, May to August (inclusive), the imports from Norway into this country have been 65 per cent. higher than the same months last year; and whether the Government propose to resume their liberty to protect this branch of the 547 quarrying industry in this country at the earliest possible date?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)According to the official records imports of granite setts and kerbs from Norway in the period May to August, 1933, exceeded those of the same period in 1932 by some 51 per cent., but imports from that country are still much lower than in 1931 and earlier years. The commercial agreements recently entered into with Norway, Sweden and Finland provide that no increase in the duty on granite setts and kerbs produced in these countries shall be made during their currency.