COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE (WEST CAMEROON) ORDER, 1962 (Hansard, 18 July 1962)

EARL JELLICOE
My Lords, I think you would possibly like my explanation—

§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH
No.

EARL JELLICOE
—of this instrument to be short, and I can undertake that it will be.

§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH
This is really obstructing the House.

EARL JELLICOE
I think that if the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition would bear with me just for a moment he would realise that this is not an unimportant instrument. The Order before your Lordships' House will, 605 if approved, have the effect of adding the name of West Cameroon to the countries already listed in Section 2 (4) of the Import Duties Act, 1958, as part of the Commomwealth preference area. The Order would take effect on October 1, 1962, the date on which the provisions of Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1961, cease to be effective. Those provisions maintain the status of the former Southern Cameroons, now West Cameroon, in the area for one year after the Southern Cameroons were no longer administered by Her Majesty's Government as a United Nations Trusteeship territory. I think that perhaps, on balance, your Lordships will feel it right to extend this Commonwealth preference to this former Commonwealth territory in the way proposed. I hope the House will therefore give its approval to the draft Order in Council.

§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH
It has already done so.

EARL JELLICOE
I note that the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition has said that the House has done so, but I have not heard any word from the noble Lord the Leader of the Liberal Opposition in this House. However, I beg to move.