HC Deb 14 April 1938 vol 334 cc1303-4
65. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons for the increase in the number and value of motor cars imported into this country from Germany from 35 cars, to the value of £8,815, in the first two months of 1936, to 2,339 cars, to the value of £200,384, in the first two months of this year; the average import duty levied on these cars; and whether their export to this country is subsidised from any source in Germany?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Captain Euan Wallace)

The rate of duty chargeable on foreign motor cars on importation into this country is 33⅓ per cent. ad valorem. I have heard the opinion expressed that the export of motor cars from Germany to this country is subsidised, but I have no official information on the subject.

Mr. Griffiths

Do not those figures prove either that the export of these cars is subsidised or, considering the price at which they are sold in this country, that British cars are sold at exorbitant prices?

Captain Wallace

If the German Government like to give presents to buyers of motor cars in this country, that system, provided that it is not overdone, is not altogether bad from our point of view.

Mr. H. G. Williams

Is it not now common knowledge that a very large number of exporters to this country are subsidised, and that the subsidies are causing very great inconvenience to many branches of British industry; and cannot His Majesty's Government decide to take some action?

Captain Wallace

If we find that the subsidy is causing a disturbance we shall have to consider it, but what I said was that we had no official information of that kind.

Mr. Dalton

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take steps to ascertain what is going on, or is he content to have no information and to do nothing?

Captain Wallace

The Board of Trade take every step they can to obtain information relative to the welfare of British industry.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that German exporters of coal are subsidised to the extent of 7s. per ton, and will not the Government and the Board of Trade consider a matter which is putting a large number of British workers on to the road?