§ 26. Sir John Wardlaw-Milneasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that in the agreement made between Australia and Belgium the primage duty of 10 per cent. has been removed, with the result that carpets from this country, which are still subject to that tax, are faced with a considerable reduction in the advantage which they gain by means of the preferential duty; and whether he will make representations to the Australian Government pointing out this handicap and requesting that the same privilege of exemption from primage should be extended to the British products?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Oliver Stanley)Belgian floor coverings wholly of cotton were exempted from primage duty in Australia on 1st January, 1937. Similar goods of United Kingdom manufacture were exempted from primage duty on the same date and the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Sir J. Wardlaw-MilneAm I to understand that there is no disadvantage now to English production being exported as a result of the reduction in the case of Belgium?
§ Mr. StanleyThe same reduction was extended to English production on the same day.