§ Mr. AYLESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give figures as to the cost to the British taxpayer of Colonial preferences already in operation?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI assume that my hon. Friend has, in mind the effect of preference on the revenue. The only compari-2034W son that can be made is of the amount of duty paid in a given period on goods subject to preference with the amount that would have been payable on the same goods had there been no preference. On this basis the net cost to the revenue in the calendar year 1923 was £4,608,000. But it will be appreciated that this figure does not take into account any effect on consumption which may have resulted from the alterations in duty on Empire goods.