§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State will take into consideration, with regard to any permanent reductions in duties proposed upon articles imported into the West Indian Colonies from the United States, the fact that although the United States, under the M'Kinley Tariff, have agreed to admit West Indian sugars duty free, they have granted a bonus equivalent to the former scale of duties to home producers; and whether alterations in the existing Customs tariffs of the Colonies will necessitate higher duties on all articles exported from the United Kingdom to these Colonies?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethIn entering into the arrangement with the United States Government, under which the duties imposed in certain West Indian Colonies on various articles imported chiefly, though not exclusively, from the United States have been reduced, Her Majesty's Government took into consideration the fact that a bounty is granted in the United States to home producers of sugar. Alterations in the existing Customs tariffs of the Colonies will not necessitate higher duties on all articles exported from the United Kingdom to these Colonies.
§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)Can the right hon. Gentleman say when Papers on the subject will be laid on the Table?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThey are in preparation.