§ SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can state what proportion of the total imports of British cotton goods into India consist of coloured and printed goods which are not manufactured in that country; and whether, in the case of the goods referred to, the Government of India would be permitted to impose such duties as were necessary for Revenue purposes?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. H. H. FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.On the average of the last three years about 21 per cent. of the cotton goods imported into India consist of coloured or printed goods. The Tariff Act has been passed, and there is at present no proposal on the subject of Indian Import Duties before Her Majesty's Government.
§ MR. WHITELEYAre we to understand the 21 per cent. are all British goods?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI should not like to say that.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANEIs it the intention of Her Majesty's Government to allow the Government of India a free hand in dealing with these imported goods?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI do not quite understand the hon. Member's question. The Tariff Bill has passed into law, and there is no proposal before the Government with reference to the imposition of Import Duties.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANEI understood the objection was, that native goods were to be protected at the expense of British goods. I take it that that will not be the case.