§ 7. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the President of the Board of Trade what representations are being made to the United States Government regarding the duty at present imposed on the import of British books.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. F. J. Erroll)The United States Government have signed a U.N.E.S.C.O. Agreement on the import of educational materials, which includes provision for duty-free import of books. Legislation which would enable them to ratify and implement this Agreement is at present before Congress.
§ Mr. ThomsonI thank the Minister for that reply. Will he bear in mind that the American Government is the only Western Government at present imposing any duties on books and that it is now two years since the American Government signed that U.N.E.S.C.O. Convention? Will the Government press the United States Government to introduce the necessary legislation quickly and get the necessary administrative steps taken to remove this barrier?
§ Mr. ErrollI do not think that we should do anything more now, as legislation is at present before Congress.