§ 82. Mr. NORTHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any investigation has been made into the legality of the recent 10 per cent. tax per ton imposed by Belgium on imported coal; and whether any protests have been made against the imposition of this tax so far as it affects British coal imports into Belgium?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI understand that Belgian coal importers have consulted counsel as to the legality of the tax. As regards the second part of the question, the tax applies to imports from all countries without discrimination and there is no ground for an official protest on the part of His Majesty's Government.