§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the effect of the new Indian import duty of 15 per cent. or 3½ annas, whichever is the greater, on plain cotton cloth called grey shirtings; and whether, in view of the fact that the latter duty is much higher than the former, he can give an approximate percentage of what 3½ annas means on the bazaar value and on the makers' price, respectively?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI am aware that the effect of the minimum duty of 3½ annas per lb. imposed on all plain grey cotton piece goods imported into India is that the duty leviable on a substantial proportion of such goods from the United Kingdom exceeds 15 per cent. on their real value. Having regard to the wide range in the value per lb. of the goods to which the specific duty is applicable, I regret that I am unable to give figures on the lines of those asked for in the second part of the question.