HC Deb 09 March 1955 vol 538 c426
14. Mr. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons for the fall in imports into Nigeria from the United Kingdom in 1954 compared with 1953 and the increase of imports into Nigeria from Japan in the same period.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The main reason was the removal by the Nigerian Government of import restrictions against Japanese goods when these restrictions were no longer justifiable on balance of payments grounds.

Mr. Russell

As this country buys a very large percentage of the exports of Nigeria, is not there at any rate a moral obligation upon Nigeria to buy a very great proportion of the exports of this country instead of those of the Japanese?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I know that my hon. Friend—who has often stood with me in battles for inter-Imperial trade—will agree that it has been the long-standing policy of Her Majesty's Government to invite colonial Governments to restrict imports only where it is necessary on balance of payments grounds. It is for them to take this or any other action on their own.

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