Captain A. EVANSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in September last the Italian Govern- 513W ment imposed a revenue tax of 10 per cent. on the value of all coal imported, and as from 1st January this year a further impost of between 9d. and 10d, per ton has been placed upon all coal arriving by sea; whether he has made representations to the Italian Government; and if he will make a statement in the House?
§ Major COLVILLEOn 24th September last the Italian Government imposed by decree a revenue duty on the importation of a large number of foreign goods. This duty was fixed generally at the rate of 15 per cent. ad valorem, but in the case of coal was fixed at 10 per cent. Coal for the use of the State railways and for merchant ships was exempted altogether. Since the duty was imposed for revenue purposes and is applied to coal from all sources, His Majesty's Government have not felt that there was any substantial ground for protest. On the other hand, the general landing duty of 2½ lire per ton imposed on 1st January applies only to goods imported by sea, and accordingly affects coal from this country to a greater extent than coal from other countries.. His Majesty's Ambassador is accordingly being instructed to draw the attention of the Italian Government to this aspect of the landing duty.