HC Deb 13 December 1960 vol 632 cc184-5
4. Mr. Tilney

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has with regard to the application of Imperial Preference on products from the British Cameroons after the vote to be held there in February, 1961.

Mr. Erroll

Pending the plebiscite, it would be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to make any statement.

Mr. Tilney

But how can my right hon. Friend possibly expert people to vote if they do not know what they are voting for? People must know that there is an Imperial Preference of £7 a ton on 3 million bananas? Are they going to forfeit that when they vote in February of next year and price themselves out of the United Kingdom market? Are they to be denied the opening of the Common Market in Europe? They really must know.

Mr. Erroll

I appreciate the difficulty to which my hon. Friend has drawn my attention. But we have the important principle to maintain that we should not appear to be influencing the voters one way or the other by making any prejudgment on this issue.