§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, by the new Japanese tariff, it is proposed to raise the tariff by 7s. 2d. per ton on tin plates, or an increase of 30 per cent., and on black plates, Class A, 3s. 7d. per ton, or an increase of 35 per cent., on Class C an increase of 10s. 3d. per ton, or 102 per cent., and on galvanised sheets an increase of £2 3s. 7d. per ton, or 170 per cent., and it is also proposed to place a greatly increased duty on tinned plates (crystallised, embossed, and the like); and if he can explain what the respective classes A and C, mentioned above, are supposed to cover; and whether he intends taking action in the matter?
Mr. BUXTONThe facts are correctly stated in the question, except that the increase in the duty proposed on black plates included under subhead C is 10s. 6d., and not 10s. 3d. Sub-head A covers plain black plates of a thickness not exceeding 0.7 millimetres, Sub-head B covers plates of a thickness exceeding 0.7 but not exceeding 1.5 millimetres, and Subhead C covers plates of a thickness exceeding 1.5 millimetres. The provisions of the new Japanese Tariff Bill have been communicated to chambers of commerce and other representative associations with a view to ascertaining the probable effect of the new proposals, if enacted, on British trade. When the replies have been received they will be considered by the Board of Trade Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence. Pending this I am not in a position to say what further action, if any, may be found desirable.