§ Mr. E. JARDINEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the instructions to the British Consul at St. Gall, Switzerland, permit the granting of a certificate of origin for goods in which not more than 25 per cent, of the finished value is due to enemy labour and material, and thereby permitting the entry of these part enemy goods into the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the recommendation of the Economic Conference at Paris, Section 1, Sub-section B, he will now prohibit the importation into this country of all goods wholly or partly originating in, or coming from, enemy countries?
Mr. HARCOURTThe instructions to which the hon. Member refers are not restricted in their application to Switzerland. The question of the conditions under which certificates should be issued for goods mainly of neutral, but partly of enemy, origin is at present under consideration.
§ Mr. JARDINEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are not twenty lace and embroidery machines in the whole of Holland and that the Dutch exports of lace and embroidery must therefore be to a large extent of German manufacture; and whether he will now take steps to prohibit the import of these enemy goods?
Mr. HARCOURTI have no information as to the number of these machines in Holland, but I am causing inquiry to be made. Imports from Holland are, of course, only permitted if they are accompanied by certificates of origin issued by British Consular officers.