§ SIR MARK STEWART (Kirkcudbrightshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the minimum tariff on spirits imported into West Africa has been raised to 80 francs per hectolitre; and, if not, what is the exact amount in francs decided upon by the Brussels Conference as the minimum duty, and also what is the exact duty to be levied in Togoland and Dahomey, also in francs; and if he can state whether any steps have been taken to protect the hinterland of the West African possessions from the introduction of spirits, and whether the prohibition clause of the Brussels General Act of 1890 has been reaffirmed.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe minimum has been fixed at 70 francs per hectolitre at 50 deg. C., with an exception of 60 francs per hectolitre at 50 deg. C. for Togoland and Dahomey. The duty will increase proportionally for each degree above 50 deg. C. It was unnecessary to reaffirm the prohibition clause of the Brussels General Act of 1890, but a protocol was annexed to the present Convention stating that the signatory powers reserve to themselves the right to take each with its full liberty of action the necessary steps to prevent the introduc- 979 tion of spirits into the zones of prohibition contemplated by Art. XCI. of the General Act of 1890.