§ 4. Colonel GOODMANasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any progress has been made by negotiations with the governments re presented at the Ottawa Conference to establish a greater degree of uniformity of standard of Empire content?
Mr. J. H. THOMASI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave him to a similar Question on 13th December. An Order has now been issued by the President of the Board of Trade on 30th January, 1933, with effect from 1st April, 1933, increasing to 50 per cent. the percentage of Empire content of certain classes of goods to enable them to qualify for preference when imported into the United Kingdom.
§ Colonel GOODMANIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the conference recommended that uniformity should be inquired into and a decision made as soon as possible?
Mr. THOMASYes, I am aware of that, but there is a difference as to what should be uniformity. In this case the President of the Board of Trade thought that uniformity from the British point of View should be 50 per cent.