§ 29. Sir DOUGLAS THOMSONasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information regarding an alteration in the application by the French Government of the quota on imported salmon; and whether this quota is now to include, not only fresh salmon, but also frozen salmon?
§ Captain WALLACEAccording to my information, the quota restrictions on the importation of fresh salmon, including frozen salmon and salmon imported on ice, lapsed on 31st December, 1935.
§ 30. Sir D. THOMSONasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that the French Government charges duty on the gross weight of a box of imported fresh salmon; and whether he will make representations to the French Government, in view of the fact that salmon sent from Aberdeen require much more ice and 15 packing than salmon sent from London, and pay accordingly a higher duty per pound of salmon?
§ Captain WALLACEThe French customs duty on salmon, as on imports generally, is based on the gross weight unless the rate of duty under the minimum tariff exceeds 150 francs per 100 kilos. I understand, however, that, in the case of fish imported in bulk on ice, the ice is not included in the dutiable weight. Where the weight of ice cannot be satisfactorily determined, a deduction of 5 per cent. of the gross weight is allowed. I fear that no useful purpose would be served by making representations against a long-established practice.