§ 29. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has been informed of any reciprocal proposals for preferences from the Colonies arising out of the new tariff proposals of His Majesty's Government?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on the 10th of February. I should add that I have received from Somaliland a specific proposal to increase the duties on foreign imports by 10 per cent. I have also asked the President of the Board of 1628 Trade to review the existing rates of duty in the Colonies which are free to grant preference in order to see where an adjustment in the rate of duty and the preference accorded would be of material benefit to British exports.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYMay we take it, then, that, as a direct result of the policy of His Majesty's Government, these matters are being reviewed, with the result that British trade will be encouraged and the same amount of revenue received?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think it is fair to draw all those deductions.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIn view of the postponement of the Ottawa Conference until the middle of the year, may I ask whether there is any chance of agreements being reached before that Conference and put into force if the Dominions are desirous of doing so?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is a rather different point. This question was addressed on the subject of preferences between this country and the Colonies, and these, of course, are matters from day to day. With regard to the Dominions, I have already invited the Colonies to make any suggestions where an inter-Dominion and Colonial preference can be accorded. Some discussions, no doubt, will take place at Ottawa, but actually a number of matters are already under consideration.