§ 14. Mr. Julian Ameryasked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions he is giving to the British delegation to the forthcoming international conference at Torquay in respect of negotiations affecting Imperial preferences.
Mr. H. WilsonI am afraid that I could not undertake to announce beforehand the instructions to be given to the United Kingdom delegation since it would clearly not be possible to carry out sucessful negotiations in such circumstances. The House will, however, be aware that it is Government policy, first, to agree to reductions in our tariff, or in the preferences we enjoy in Commonwealth countries, only where we secure a tariff concession which we consider of at least equal advantage, and, secondly, to agree to no changes in preferences which we give or enjoy, without the fullest consultation with other Commonwealth countries involved.
§ Mr. AmeryCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that in any commitment entered into, the present time limit in which these commitments can be repudiated or denounced—I believe it is six months—will not be increased to three years?
Mr. WilsonThere may be some confusion between the length of the period for which the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade continue and the period for which each of these tariff commitments continues. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary will be making a fairly full statement on this in tomorrow's Debate.
§ Mr. BraineIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that these preferences are the most effective instrument for stimulating trade between ourselves and Commonwealth countries; and is it not an act of the greatest folly to continue to bind our hands as we have done in the past? Will he bear this in mind when issuing instructions to the delegation?
Mr. WilsonI am aware that it is an instrument, but the events of the last two or three years have shown that long-term contracts and other instruments have been almost as important, and perhaps more important, in increasing the volume of trade with the Commonwealth to its present record level.
§ Captain DuncanCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not tie the hands of the Government in connection with the horticultural part of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, because the horticultural industry has no assured market? Will he ensure that relevant parts of the agreement can be denounced if circumstances warrant it?
Mr. WilsonI can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the question of the negotiations in regard to horticulture is receiving very special attention at the present time.
§ Mr. RussellIs it not the case that under the terms of the Geneva Agreements even long-term contracts would not be allowed if the price paid was not the cheapest that could be obtained?