§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received details of the proposed increase on the duties on Manila rope and wire rope imported into Spain which the Spanish Government proposes to place on this class of goods, largely manufactured in this country; whether His Majesty's Government has made any representations to the Spanish Government against this tariff increase, particularly in view of the recommendations of the International Economic Conference of the League of Nations in 1927; and, if so, what representations have been made, and with what result?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSI have received no detailed information as to the proposed new duties on these goods, but I understand that proposals are under consideration for a substantial increase of the duties on wire ropes. In the representations which were made to the Spanish Government towards the end of last year, when the tariff revision was in its early stages, special reference was made to wire ropes and other kinds of cordage. His Majesty's Ambassador has again recently represented to the Spanish Government the alarm felt in this country at the prospects of higher duties on British 903W goods imported into Spain, and has been assured that the new Spanish duties affecting British goods generally will vary little from those now in force, and will in no case involve a considerable rise.