§ Mr. Marksasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to end the anomaly under which imports of hats from the Republic of Eire enter this 108W country free of tax, whilst hats from this country are subject to 35 per cent. import tax on entering Eire.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyThe only item of headgear in the Irish tariff bearing a duty of 35 per cent. on British goods is that for women's and girl's felt hats of a value not exceeding 21 shillings each. Figures for exports of these hats are not separately available, but the balance of trade in headgear as a whole between Britain and the Irish Republic is very much in our favour and the disparity of tariff treatment is being gradually reduced under the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement so that the Irish Republic's duties on all British hats will be completely eliminated by 1st July, 1975.