§ Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the most recent development in the proposals of the Commission of the French Senate with regard to the proposed new tariff on twist drills, which form a considerable item in the Sheffield productions sent to France; whether such proposals are to so increase the duties as to make them three times as high as they were fixed by the Chamber of Deputies, namely, where the greatest diameter at the cutting part is 25 millimetres or more, 150 francs per 100 kilos; 10 to 25 millimetres. 300 francs per 100 kilos; and less than ten millimetres, 450 francs per 100 kilos, and what steps he proposes to take in the matter in order to avoid the annihilation of the trade which must inevitably follow?
Mr. BUXTONI am aware that the Report of the Commission of the French Senate contains proposals of the nature indicated in the question, and the necessary instructions are being given to His Majesty's Embassy at Paris.