HC Deb 28 July 1955 vol 544 cc1330-1
23. Mr. Shepherd

asked the President of the Board of Trade the rate of duty on foreign full chrome upper leathers and glace kid, respectively.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The duty on full chrome upper leather is 20 per cent. or in some cases 15 per cent. ad valorem and the duty on glace kid is 10 per cent. ad valorem.

Mr. Shepherd

Does not the Answer reveal a most unsatisfactory state of affairs and that the home glace kid manufacturer has to bear unnecessary import duty on his imported raw skins and then has less protection than similar leather manufactures against goods from abroad? Could my right hon. Friend do something to remedy that situation?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I shall be happy to look at representations made to me. As I said in reply to the earlier Question, the former duty is really part of the preferential arrangements, for which of course we get reciprocal benefits.