Captain TUDOR REESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before opening the Budget, he received any demand or representations from any section of the general public for the repeal of the McKenna duties?
§ Mr. REMERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he received any representations or deputations advocating the abolition of the McKenna Duties, cither from trade associations or from bodies representing motor users, either before or after his Budget speech: and, if so, will he name what they were?
§ Captain TERRELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether at any time since the present Ministry assumed office it has received any representations from, commercial bodies or trade unions in favour of the removal of the McKenna 1161W Duties; and, if so, what these bodies wore?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe views and the verdict of the general public on the subject of protective duties were emphatically expressed at the General Election last December and the Budget was framed to give effect to that verdict.
§ Captain TERRELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received from any commercial firms representations affirming that the abolition or reduction of the McKenna Duties will lead to an increase of unemployment; and, if so, the names of such firms and the districts in which their works are situated?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI have received large numbers of communications to this effect from commercial firms in various parts of the country. The similarity of phrase which manifests itself in these communications would lead me to suppose that they have been organised and inspired from a common and undisclosed origin, and, in fact, I have in my possession abundant evidence that this is so.
§ Sir W. DAVISONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total revenue which has been derived from the McKenna Duties since they were established, differentiating between the various categories of imports?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe total net revenue collected in respect of each category of the McKenna Duties since they were first imposed to 31st March, 1924, was as follows:
1162W
£ Cinematograph films 1,908,000 Clocks, watches and component parts 5,047,000 Motor cars and motor bicycles and tricycles (including accessories and component parts, other than tyres) 10,582,000 Musical instruments (including accessories and component parts, and records and other means of reproducing music) 1,828,000 £19,365,000 As from 1st April, 1922, the above figures include those relating to the collection in Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.