§ 24. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any discussions have taken place between the Colonial Office and the Malayan and Nigerian Governments in regard to renewing the tin restriction scheme; and whether, in view of the anxiety that has recently been caused among tin producers and consumers, the Government will make it a condition of any prolongation of the scheme that no individual or director of a company who has participated in the pepper or shellac pools shall represent either Malaya or Nigeria on the International Tin Committee or the Buffer Stock Committee?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo discussions have yet taken place between the Malayan and Nigerian Governments and myself regarding the renewal of the tin control scheme, which, under the international agreement, runs till the end of 1936. As regards the last part of the question, I should certainly regard any person who was proved to have been guilty of any impropriety as unqualified to act as a representative of a Colonial Government. Equally, I am sure, the hon. Member will agree that it would be improper and unfair to assume that any person connected either directly or indirectly with the tin scheme had been guilty of any improper action.
§ Mr. LIDDALLIs it not the case that if the scheme is abandoned British Malaya and Nigeria will be gravely injured, and that many workpeople will be thrown out of employment?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is perfectly true, and that aspect of the matter was considered by the World Economic Conference, which recommended unanimously that it was vital to the interests of all tin-producing countries that the scheme should go on.
§ Mr. GRENFELLWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, I should like to ask whether, in the event of its being found that there had been improper conduct in connection with these speculations, he will then make a declaration?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a hypothetical question.
§ 27. Mr. GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the Nigerian representative on the International Tin Committee is the chairman of the Anglo-Oriental Mining Company, and that this company is a creditor of Messrs. Rolls and Company, now in liquidation arising from speculations in pepper, he will consider the advisability of taking the appropriate steps to dissociate from the administration of the tin restriction scheme anyone connected with the pepper and shellac pools?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe hon. Member is misinformed. The chairman of the Anglo-Oriental Mining Corporation is not the Nigerian representative on the International Tin Control Committee, 1115 but one of the persons appointed by the Tin Producers' Association in an advisory capacity. The Nigerian representatives on the International Tin Committee are all Government officials. The hon. Member has probably seen a statement published in the Press this morning by the Anglo-Oriental Corporation to the effect that it has no interest, nor has it at any time had any interest, in any pool dealing in pepper, shellac or other similar produce.
§ 32. Major NATHANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British members of the advisory committee to the International Tin Committee are directors or shareholders of any, and, if so, of which, companies dealing in tin in this country?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe advisers to the International Tin Control Committee are appointed, by reason of the fact that they are interested in tin production or consumption, and I think it probable that all the British subjects concerned, both those that are advisers to the International Committee, and those who are advisers to the British and foreign delegations, are interested as directors or shareholders in various tin companies, but I have no full particulars of their interests.
§ Major NATHANWill the right hon. Gentleman give such particulars as he has?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have not any particulars. I should have thought that, in accordance with the ordinary commercial practice, a general disclosure of interest was sufficient. I think I gave the hon. and gallant Member an answer the other day in which I said that the International Tin Committee did know the companies of which these gentlemen were directors.
§ 33. Major NATHANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the criteria by which the International Tin Committee is guided in reaching a decision as to altering or maintaining the quota of tin production?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that it is difficult for me to attempt to state the criteria which an international body, 1116 containing representatives of several foreign Governments, adopts in arriving at its decisions. I am, however, informed by the chairman of the International Tin Committee that the committee, in fixing the quotas of tin production, is guided primarily by the statistical position, and by their estimates of future consumption.
§ Mr. LIDDALLAre not these questions by Members of the Socialist party likely to prove advantageous to speculators?
§ 34. Major NATHANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the private tin pool comprises any members of the advisory committee to the International Tin Committee, or any companies of which they, or any of them, are directors or shareholders; and whether the private tin pool is, or has been, engaged in the sale of pooled tin since the meeting of the International Committee at The Hague on or about 20th February?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am informed that the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not in a position to answer the second part of the question. Moreover, I am sure the House will appreciate that if private interests disclose to the International Tin Committee (or its chairman) their holdings in tin in order that this information, given in confidence, may be at the disposal of the committee, it would be most improper of me to make that information public even if I possessed it.
§ Major NATHANIs the right hon. Gentleman able to say, and will he say, which members of the advisory committee are also parties to the private pool?