§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to a letter from leading British firms in the Far East to the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai urging a reduction in the present duty on China tea to the same level as that on Indian and Ceylon tea, and urging, further, that Lancashire firms, who view with alarm the falling off in their China trade, would welcome any move which would promote larger British trade interests in China; and if he will take the matter into consideration in framing his forthcoming Budget?
Mr. YOUNGMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's attention has been called to the letter referred72W to, but he is unable to anticipate the Budget statement.