HC Deb 18 November 1919 vol 121 cc359-60
42. Lieut.-Commander KEN WORTHY

asked whether the present restrictive duties on the export of raw materials for vegetable oils will be applied to the mandatory areas granted to this country under the covenant of the League of Nations; if so, whether this House will be given an opportunity of discussing this departure from the historic policy of Great Britain of recognising the rights of native races to sell their produce in the open markets of the world; whether the League of Nations aspect of this question has been fully considered; and whether an appeal by dissatisfied producers in these mandatory areas to the Council of the League of Nations will be permitted by His Majesty's Government?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Lieut.-Colonel Amery)

The hon. Member is incorrect in his assumption that there are restrictive duties on the export of the raw material for vegetable oils generally, but I presume he is referring to the special case of palm kernels exported from the West African Colonies, on which product there is a differential export duty of £2 a ton on kernels exported outside the Empire. In any case, the answer to the first part of his question is in the negative; the rest consequently does not arise.