§ Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade the foreign countries which have increased their Customs tariffs against foreign imports of manufactured goods since the War, and the countries in which a corresponding reduction has taken place?
Mr. WEBBA large number of foreign countries have modified their tariffs since the War, often in an upward direction; but where the duties are specific it is impossible, without an exhaustive examination of the rates of duty over a wide series of articles in the case of each separate country, to say whether there has been a general increase or decrease in thead valorem incidence of the tariff. Account would have to be taken in such examination of changes of classification and changes in the external value of the currency in terms of which the rates of duty are expressed. In these circumstances it is not possible to give an adequate reply to the hon. Member's inquiry. I should add that detailed particulars of change: in Customs Duties are published, as soon as information is available, in the Board of Trade Journal," and the hon. Member will find articles summarising the more important movements in tariffs in the issues of that journal for 29th December, 1921 (pp. 676–7); 2nd August. 1923 (pp. 116–118), 27th December, 1923 (pp. 685–7) and 26th June, 1924 (pp. 700–2).