§ 41. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the great inflow of foreign-made Coronation goods coming into the country, he will take steps to have the proposed import duties put on at once or at least from a date not later than 1st December?
§ Dr. BURGINI am not aware that there has been a great inflow of foreign-made Coronation goods; the Import Duties Advisory Committee stated in their recent report that their inquiries did not show that any considerable importation of such goods had yet developed. In any case, having regard to the terms of the Anglo-French and Anglo-German Trade Agreements the increased duty on important classes of these goods could only be imposed with the consent of the French and German Governments. These Governments have consented, in view of the special circumstances, to waive their rights under the Trade Agreements, and the date of operation, 15th December, is part of the understanding which has been reached with them. It is not, therefore, possible to bring these duties into operation at an earlier date.
§ Sir P. HANNONIn the arrangement of future oversea trade agreements, will my hon. Friend see that embarrassing conditions of this kind will not be embodied?
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the people who are ordering these goods are those who are on the means test at the present time?