HC Deb 06 July 1931 vol 254 cc1693-4
6. Brigadier-General Sir ALFRED KNOX

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the position of the peasant farmers in India he will make representations to the Indian Tariff Commission in favour of an import duty on imported raw cotton, and the limitation of the duty on imported cotton goods to cloth of lower counts, for the manufacture of which Indian-grown cotton is suitable?

Mr. BENN

The function of the Indian Tariff Board is to consider questions referred to them by the Government of India, and, so far as I know, the question of the protection of raw cotton has not been so referred.

Sir A. KNOX

Is it not passible for the right hon. Gentleman to make representations to the Tariff Board in India?

Mr. BENN

I think the better avenue would be for the persons interested to exorcise their light of making representations for themselves.

Sir A. KNOX

Would not the change be in the interests of the workers in Lancashire as well as the producers in India?

Mr. REMER

Does the right hon. Gentleman take no interest in the Lancashire cotton trade?