§ 49. Lieut.- Colonel Sir MERVYN MANNINGHAM-BULLERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that imports of Canadian leather footwear into the United Kingdom have risen from 6,456 pairs in 1933 to 33,888 pairs in 1934, and in the same years exports from the United Kingdom have fallen from 105,420 pairs to 68,626 pairs, and that Canadian imports are duty free whereas British footwear is subject to a duty of 35 per cent., he will endeavour in any future agreements to secure fairer conditions for this important British industry?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Canadian duty of 35 per cent, on leather footwear to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is the intermediate rate: the rate of duty on leather footwear from the United Kingdom is 22½per cent, plus an Excise tax of 1½ per cent., thus giving our manufacturers a preference of 11 per cent. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that it is my constant endeavour to secure better conditions for United Kingdom export industries in both Empire and foreign markets.
§ Sir M. MANNINGHAM-BULLERWould my right hon. Friend consider that the results of the existing duties are rather unsatisfactory as far as British trade in this industry is concerned?