§ 31. Mr. Russellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the danger to the livelihood of wine-growers in Australia owing to the high rate of Customs duty on. Empire wines; and what action he proposes.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay)Representations on this subject were received by my right hon. Friend before the last Budget and were renewed at a meeting with Commonwealth representatives on 12th July last. As regards the second part of the Question, the hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate the Chancellor's Budget statement.
§ Mr. RussellIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this cannot wait until the next Budget; and does he not realise that there is a grave danger of thousands of Australian ex-Service men of both world wars being put out of their jobs if they do not get a market in this country?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that these Commonwealth countries consider that we are discriminating against them in regard to these wines; and will he give some assurance at any rate that their representations will be sympathetically considered?
§ Mr. BraineDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise the importance Australia attaches to a guaranteed market in this country for its wines; and, in view of the importance of good relations with Australia, will he give more sympathetic consideration to those representations than he has been prepared to give so far?
§ Mr. JayWe are well aware of these considerations, but there is no question of discrimination against Commonwealth wines.
§ Mr. NallyIn any negotiations on this matter, will my hon. Friend consider the possibility of offsetting these wines by making representations to the Australian Government about the grossly inflated tariffs they place against the import of British rayon manufactures?