§ 15. Mr. HAMILTON KERRasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total value of tea exported from Ceylon for the year 1931; what proportion of this was despatched to Great Britain and foreign countries, respectively; what was the value of the cotton goods imported into Ceylon during 1931; and what proportion came from Great Britain and foreign sources, respectively?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERWith my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the figures:
| Value of Tea Exported from Ceylon during 1931. | ||
| To | Value. | |
| £ | ||
| Great Britain | … | 6,825,619 |
| Rest of Empire | … | 2,055,580 |
| Foreign Countries | … | 1,523,410 |
| Ships Stores | … | 82,384 |
| Total | … | 10,486,993 |
| Value of Cotton Yarns and Manufactures Imported into Ceylon during 1931. | ||
| From | Value. | |
| £ | ||
| Great Britain | … | 439,831 |
| Rest of Empire | … | 273,843 |
| Foreign Countries | … | 390,705 |
| Total | … | 1,104,379 |
§ 16. Mr. KERRasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the benefit which will accrue to Ceylon as a result of the increased preference which has been given to tea imported from there into this Country, he can state whether any steps are being taken to bring to the notice of the Government the desirability of giving reciprocal benefit to the importation of British cotton goods into Ceylon, more especially in view 1891 of the recent increase in the importation of Japanese cotton goods to that territory?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI understand that a Resolution approving the principle of the grant of preference to the United Kingdom has been favourably reported upon the Executive Committee of the State Council to which it was referred, and is expected to be considered by the full Council at its next meeting on the 24th of May. When the Resolution was first introduced the Financial Secretary deployed fully in his speech the arguments in favour of Ceylon giving a reciprocal preference to this country.
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is competent for the Government of a Colony of the constitutional development of Ceylon to enter into a trade agreement with His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is a rather difficult constitutional question of which I should like notice. What I am quite clear about is that it is competent for a Government of the constitution of Ceylon to make reciprocal concessions to the United Kingdom.