GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1935. (Hansard, 10 March 1938)

§ Mr. Benn
Owing to the regretted absence of the Under-Secretary, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster explained these Orders on the last occasion, but I am not sure that he made the position under this one quite clear. This Order relates to the Import Duties Act, 1932. The Chancellor of the Duchy said that there is in operation between India and Burma a fiscal arrangement under the Ottawa Agreements and it is intended by this Order to continue that arrangement for a further period. Is that an accurate statement, or is it not rather the fact that Burma being now an independent fiscal unit it is necessary to continue until November the Section in the Import Duties Act, 1932, which relieves Burma of the higher duties until she has had the opportunity of making some preferential arrangements with the United Kingdom? I should be glad if the Under-Secretary would tell us whether this has something to do with the arrangements between India and Burma, or whether it has not, in fact, something to do with a prospective arrangement between Burma and the United Kingdom.

The Under-Secretary of State for India (Lord Stanley)
I think the right hon. Gentleman is right. This Order has to do with a prospective arrangement between Burma and ourselves. We are simply continuing until the end of November those temporary fiscal arrangements which were entered into between Burma and ourselves to cover the period until the conclusion of a trade agreement.

§ Mr. Benn
There are four of these Orders on the Paper. I should like to ask these questions: When the Provincial Assembly in Burma meets can it be given a free vote on this preferential arrangement, and can we be assured that the same thing will not happen as in the Indian Assembly where it was brought about by Government pressure rather than by a free willing vote?

Lord Stanley
Such matters must be decided by the authorities in Burma, but I do not think the right hon. Gentleman need have any apprehension. This trade agreement will be entered into only on the advice of the Ministers responsible to the Assembly.