HC Deb 15 February 1933 vol 274 cc984-6
18. Mr. DAVID G REN FELL

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in conformity with the Ottawa Agreements he has invited the Governments of the non-self-governing Colonies to accord to the signatories to the agreements any preference which may for the time being be accorded to any other part of the British Empire; whether in each case his request has been brought before the respective legislative councils; and if he will communicate to the House any replies which he may have received?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)

I issued the necessary invitation to all those Governments which granted preference otherwise than on an Empire- wide basis, and the necessary change has now been made in every case by legislation passed by the local Legislature in the usual way.

26. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in pursuance of the Agreements concluded at Ottawa by His Majesty's Government with the Governments of Canada, Australia and India, he has invited the Governments of the Colonies and Protectorates concerned to accord to Canada, Australia and India the new or additional preferences on the commodities and at the rates shown in the appropriate schedules to these Agreements; whether he will state in each case which organs of the respective Governments have considered his request; and whether he will communicate to the House the replies which he has received stating, where the legislative council of a Colony has been consulted, whether the decision of the legislative council was readied with the unanimous assent of the elected members thereof?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

The answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative. With the exceptions hereafter stated, the Legislatures of, all the territories "concerned have endorsed the agreements. The only exceptions to this are Malta; Ceylon, where the State Council did not think fit to give full affect to the Ottawa agreements; and certain Malay States, where one or two of the minor duties are still under consideration. I am not in a position to reply to the last part of the hon. Member's question.

21. Sir WILLIAM JENKINS (for Mr. JOIHN)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state for each British Colony in Africa, excluding mandated territories, which are precluded by international treaty from granting preferences, the value of imports from, exports (domestic produce), and re-exports of merchandise to the United Kingdom, other British countries, and foreign countries, for 1929, 1930, and 1931; and the corresponding total values in the trade of such Colonies?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

As the statistics for which the hon. Member asks are very voluminous, I am sending them to him direct.

43. Mr. GORDON MACDONALD

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the Colonies in Africa which, not being mandated territories, are yet precluded by international treaty from granting preferences; the dates of such treaties and the parties to them; the provisions with regard to termination; and the legal effect of termination by any party to such treaties in respect of preferential duties and other matters?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I assume that the hon. Member intends the term Colony to include Protectorates. The dependencies in question are:

  • Kenya.
  • Uganda.
  • Nyasaland.
  • Part of Northern Rhodesia.
  • Zanzibar.
  • The Gold Coast.
  • Nigeria.
The international treaties in question are those printed as Command Papers:
  • No. 6557 of 1892.
  • No. 9334 of 1899.
  • No. 477 of 1919.
I think that the hon. Member will find all the information that he desires in those papers.