§ 16. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make any statement with regard to the visit of the French Minister of Commerce to this country in connection with the French surtaxes on British goods entering that country; whether the visit arises out of protests made by him in connection with these surtaxes; and whether there is any possibility of the negotiation of a new trade agreement with France in the near future?
14. Captain WATTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the 15 per cent. exchange compensation tax imposed some time ago by the French Government is having a detrimental effect on the export of textile machinery from this country; and what steps the British Government propose to take to get this tax waived in respect of textile machinery in the same way as it has already been waived in respect of other British exports?
§ 24. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is in a position to make a further state- 669 ment with regard to the negotiations for the withdrawal of the 15 per cent. surtax on British imports into France?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would refer to the statement which T made on Thursday last in reply to a question by My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Central Nottingham (Mr. O'Connor) to which I have at present nothing to add