HC Deb 18 November 1920 vol 134 cc2118-20W
Mr. GOULD

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Portuguese Government have imposed a tax approximating Vs. 6d. per ton on the export of pitwood, also a tax approximating £5 10s. per ton on railway sleepers; if he is aware that strong representations were made by the Portuguese Government against an imposition on the import of Portuguese wines into this country; and whether he will take steps to recall to the Portuguese Government the fact that having had preference in coal exports for some years past, they should not seek to penalise the British people by the imposition of this export tax?

Sir R. HORNE

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the second part should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. No preference, either in respect of supplies or prices, is accorded at present to Portugal in regard to the export of coal from this country. I do not consider that representations

STATEMENT showing the Average Declared Import Value per Unit of Quantity of each of the undermentioned Articles (the importation of which has notably increased) for the first Nine Months of 1913 and 1920, respectively, and the Percentage Increases in the Average Declared Values of 1920 over those of 1913.
Article. Unit of Quantity. Nine Months ended September, 1913. Average Declared Value per Unit. Nine Months ended September, 1920. Average Declared Value per Unit. Percentage Increases in Average Declared Values in 1920 over those of 1913.
£ £
Electric ware (including insulators) and door fittings of earthenware. Cwts. 1.68 6.69 298.2
Cement, calcareous, for building and engineering purposes Tons 1.32 7.41 461.4
Granite, manufactures of … … … … … Tons 0.628 3.35 433.4
Pig iron:
Forge and foundry … … … … … Tons 4.47 14.5 224.4
Acid … … … … … … … Tons 4.80 21.8 354.2
Steel blooms, billets, slabs, other than of special steel … Tons 5.21 19.0 264.7
Bars, rods, angles, shapes and sections other than of special steel:
Iron … … … … … … … … Tons 6.76 24.5 262.4
Steel: Sheet bars and tinplate bars … … … Tons 5.10 19.9 290.2
Steel: Wire rods … … … … … … Tons 6.83 24.4 257.2
Castings in the rough:
Iron … … … … … … … … Tons 14.5 42.1 190.3
Iron and steel plates and sheets … … … … Tons 7.54 28.0 271.4
Steel rails, new:
Railway (including conductor rails for electric traction) Tons 6.34 20.2 218.6
Iron and steel wire:
Wire nails (including staples) … … … … Tons 10.0 41.3 313.0
Iron and steel manufactures:
Other sorts* … … … … … … Tons 24.9 114.0 357.8
* Classes of iron and steel manufactures not separately distinguished in the Monthly Accounts of Trade and Navigation.

to the Portuguese Government against duties which Portugal, in common with certain other countries, levies on exports of pitwood and sleepers would serve any useful purpose.