§ 56. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the schedule of tariff concessions issued with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiated at Geneva calls for a reduction in the duty on prunes imported into the United Kingdom from non-Empire sources from 10s. 6d. to 7s. per cwt., to take effect on or before 1st September, 1948, and as a note printed under this item states that the products provided for under the above sub-item shall be exempt from ordinary most - favoured - nation Customs duties which exceed the preferential duties on such products, whether it is intended that prunes from Empire sources shall also pay duty at 7s. per cwt. after the date mentioned, thereby involving the elimination of the existing preference; or, in what way this note is to be implemented.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallTo carry out the agreement the position of Empire and non-Empire prunes must be equated before 1st September next. But I am afraid I cannot indicate how that will be done until my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer makes his Budget statement.