§ 2. Mr. Peter Robertsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether 1314 he will give an undertaking that the British tariff rates on cutlery will not be reduced as a result of the tariff negotiations at present proceeding in Torquay.
Mr. H. WilsonTo give information about individual tariff rates in relation to negotiations which are in progress would prejudice the success of those negotiations. I regret, therefore, that I cannot give an undertaking of the kind requested.
§ Mr. RobertsWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind two considerations: first, the severe foreign competition to which this industry was subjected between 1923 and 1936; and, second, that the present tariffs afford a very necessary protection to our workers in the industry, in view of the lower wages paid to workers elsewhere?
Mr. WilsonAll relevant considerations will be borne in mind during these negotiations and, of course, we have had full consultations with the trade interests concerned.