§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)On behalf of the Hon. Member for Exeter I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the nature of imports into the self-governing colonies from foreign countries, classifying them into manufactured and unmanufactured, and showing specifically those imports which might be furnished by Great Britain.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The Return which the Board of Trade have offered to give in reply to the Question put yesterday by the hon. Member for Derbyshire would give information as to the imports into the self-governing colonies from foreign countries classified in a similar manner to that desired by the hon. Member; but to attempt a classification on the basis of what must be largely a matter of opinion, namely, whether the articles are such as could be furnished by the United Kingdom, is impossible. I am aware of no reason why the United Kingdom should not furnish any or all of the manufactured articles usually imported into the colonies from foreign countries.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLWill the Return be issued in the form asked for in the Question?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINNo, the Return already promised will give all the information required.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLI think the intention of my hon. friend was to elicit the opinion of the Department on the subject.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI do not understand that from the form in which he has put the Question. What the hon. Member asks is not for an opinion, but that I should show specifically those imports which might be furnished by Great Britain. If the opinion of a head of an office is of any advantage to the hon. Member, I beg leave to say that it is my opinion that they could all be furnished.