§ 15. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now give a list of the British Colonies which have introduced preferential treatment for British imports, giving in each case what these preferences are?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)As I reminded my hon. and gallant Friend in reply to his question of 10th February, the majority of the Colonies which are free to do so gave preferences to this country before the present Government took office. Since then proposals have been made, and in some cases already put into effect, for the introduction of preferential tariffs in four Colonies, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, the Seychelles and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and three Protectorates, the Federated Malay States, Somaliland and the British Solomon Islands. In Ceylon, a resolution approving in principle the grant of preference has been introduced in the State Council and has been referred to the Executive Committee for Labour Industry and Commerce. As regards the rates of preference, as the list is a long one, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Captain MACDONALDIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the response made by the Colonies to the gesture?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, it is very good indeed. At this moment nearly every Colony that has a tariff and is free to do so is giving a large preference.
§ Following is the list:
797| Colony. | Nature of Preference. | Rate and Scope of Preference: |
| Cyprus | Empire | Rebate one-sixth to two-thirds of the duty on all articles. |
| Mauritius | United Kingdom and Canada (Preferential tariff may be extended to goods from any reciprocating British Possession). | Rebate of one-fifth of the duty except on certain articles. Increased preference under consideration. |
| Seychelles | Empire | Introduction of preferential tariff is in preparation |
| Gambia | Empire | Proposals have been approved for a surtax of one-quarter of the duty on foreign goods only. |
| Sierra Leone | Empire | Proposals have been approved for preferences of from one-sixth to the whole of the duty. |
| Northern Rhodesia | Empire | From one-quarter to the whole of the duty on most articles. |
| Somaliland | Empire | Proposals have been approved for a surtax of one-tenth of the duty on foreign goods only. |
| Federated Malay States | United Kingdom, Dominions, Straits Settlements, and Unfederated Malay Straits. | A preferential tariff has recently been introduced giving a preference of from one-tenth to one-half of the duty on a number of dutiable articles. |
| Bahamas | Empire (subject to reciprocity) | Rebate of one-quarter of the duty except on intoxicants, articles containing alcohol and cigars. |
| Barbados | Empire | Rebate generally of one-half of the duty. |
| Jamaica | United Kingdom and Canada (Legislative Council may extend preference to any other part of the British Empire). | Rebate generally one-quarter of the duty. |
| Trinidad | Empire | Rebate generally one half of the duty. |
| Windward Islands:— | ||
| Grenada | Empire | Rebate generally one-third of the duty. |
| St. Lucia | ||
| St. Vincent | ||
| Leeward Islands:— | ||
| Antigua | Empire | Rebate generally one-third of the duty. |
| Dominica | ||
| Montserrat | ||
| St. Kitts and Nevis | ||
| Virgin Island | ||
| Bermuda | Empire | Surtax of one-quarter of the duty on all non-Empire dutiable articles. |
| British Guiana | Empire | Rebate generally one-half of the duty. |
| British Honduras | Empire | Rebate generally one-half of the duty. |
| Falkland Islands | Empire | Rebate of one-third of the duty on British wines (only liquor, tobacco and matches are dutiable). |
| Fiji | Empire | Rebate of one-third to the whole of the duty on all articles. |
| British Solomon Islands Protectorate. | United Kingdom | The High Commissioner has reported that he is preparing proposals for a preferential tariff but details are not yet available. |
| Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. | United Kingdom |