§ 27. Lieut.-Colonel MAYHEWasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has observed that the imports of manufactured goods into this country for February, 1934, in comparison with February, 1933, have increased approximately by £2,630,000; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the level of our tariffs shall be sufficient to encourage our manufacturers to increase their production, thereby absorbing a greater number of our unemployed?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Perkins) on the 28th March.
§ 28. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the volume of imports of fruit tinned and bottled in syrup in January and February of this year, as compared with January and February of 1933, from foreign countries has increased by 172 per cent., whilst that from British countries has fallen by 8 per cent.; and what steps he proposes to take, both in the interests of the home producer and of Empire producers, to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI am aware of the facts to which my hon. Friend draws attention. It is open to any home producers who may be affected to apply to the Import Duties Advisory Committee with a view to an increase in the duties upon these goods. As regards Empire producers, these goods are subject not only to the sugar duties, under which Empire supplies receive preferential treatment, but also to duties imposed 2134 under the Ottawa Agreements Act, mostly at the rate of 15 per cent. ad valorem, from which Empire supplies are wholly exempt.
§ 29. Mr. CAPORNasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the increase in the imports of manufactured goods from Germany in the first two months of the present year, as compared with the corresponding months of 1932 and 1933, respectively; the increase in the case of stockings and hose being from 67,000 and 214,000 dozen pairs, respectively, in the two months of 1932 and 1933 to 258,000 dozen pairs in the two months of 1934; and whether he will take immediate action by restricting imports or otherwise to preserve the balance of payments between this country and Germany and the employment of British workers?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI am aware of the increase in the imports from Germany of manufactured goods in general and of stockings and hose in particular to which my hon. Friend draws attention. While complete figures are not available, the information before me suggests that exports to Germany have increased more than imports from Germany, and that the balance of visible trade in the first two months of this year moved in favour of the United Kingdom in comparison with the corresponding period of 1933.
§ 32. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to amend the Import Duties Act to ensure earlier and more effective action to deal with the increase in the imports of competitive goods?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEMy right hon. Friend sees no reason for regarding the provisions of the Import Duties Act as insufficient to deal with any undesirable increase in imports.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSHaving regard to the fact that the present volume of retained imports of manufactures is practically as high as it was 10 years ago, when we had a General Election with a view to restricting them, is it not time that further consideration should be given to this matter?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI think the general opinion is that the change in tariff policy has worked smoothly.
§ Mr. LYONSIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that in many cases applications for duty have been before the committee for a period exceeding 12 months, and, in view of the uncertainty which must ensue to British industry, can he recommend some steps to speed up the consideration of applications by the committee or to increase the committee itself?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLENo, Sir. I cannot add to my answer.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYMay I ask what is the machinery which is in existence when it is a case of goods imported into this country which have been subsidised by foreign Governments? Does such a case come under the hon. and gallant Member's Department or before the Import Duties Advisory Committee?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI could not discuss that within the compass of a question and answer.