HC Deb 07 December 1937 vol 330 cc174-6
5. Mr. De la Bère

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that, under the Act of Congress, American industries which may be affected under the proposed schedules of the Anglo-American trade agreement will be given an opportunity of making representations to the American director of commerce, he will ensure that similar opportunities will be given to British agriculture and British industry?

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. H. G. Williams) on 2nd December.

Mr. De la Bère

Will the Government assure the House that the National Farmers' Union and leaders of industry throughout the country will be consulted as it will be too late after negotiations have taken place?

Mr. Stanley

We shall follow the usual practice in these matters, and it is open to any bodies to make representations, and, indeed, many of them have already been asked to do so.

Mr. A. V. Alexander

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no invitations of that kind are issued to organised consumers, and have not the consumers a say in this mattre?

Mr. Stanley

That is another point.

Mr. H. G. Williams

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether an assurance has already been given to motor car manufacturers that duties against American cars are not to be reduced?

Mr. Stanley

As far as I am aware no such assurances have been given to anyone.

9. Mr. Peat

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the negotiations for a trading agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States of America, he will consider the possibility of relieving the present burden of double taxation between the two countries?

Mr. Stanley

No, Sir. This is not a matter which falls within the scope of the negotiations for an Anglo-United States trade agreement.

Mr. Peat

Can my right hon. Friend say why it does not fall within the scope of an agreement of that character?

Mr. Stanley

My right hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury has explained many of the difficulties that arise in connection with it, which would make it quite impossible at the moment to find an agreed basis for negotiation which would make it possible to include it in this agreement.

Mr. Peat

Does the difficulty arise because of the reluctance that the United States of America may have to enter into such an arrangement?

Mr. Stanley

This matter is primarily one for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and any question dealing solely with this matter should be addressed to him. I am assured that any attempt to include this in an Anglo-American agreement would be bound to end in failure.

Sir Joseph Nall

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is of very considerable importance and that it is not a proper subject to come within the scope of the agreement?

Mr. Stanley

I think that it is eminently a subject for agreement, if we could get one, but not in this agreement.