§ Lieut. - Colonel Bromley - Davenportasked the President of the Board of Trade why the decision to extend the 10 per cent. ad valorem duty to imports of foreign bacon and pork, whilst continuing duty-free entries from Commonwealth countries, has also provided for duty-free entries for supplies from the Irish Republic; what provision is made with regard to preferential duties for the Irish Republic under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and whether, in return for giving this concession to the Irish Republic, he will request a compensating benefit, such as the reduction of Irish duties on imports of canned foods from Great Britain.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftSupplies of bacon and pork from the Irish Republic enjoyed quantitative preference over foreign supplies under our pre-war quota arrangements. Moreover, we are bound under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement of 1938 to continue duty-free entry for Irish bacon and pork. In these circumstances no question arose of discontinuing duty-free entry from the Irish Republic or requesting compensating benefits.
Under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade the same provision is made for preferences in favour of the Irish Republic as for preferences in favour of the Commonwealth.