§ Colonel DAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has received any reports of the conference that took place on 11th or 12th July between the Bombay Millowners' Association and the Government of India; and whether the Indian Government are prepared to give any greater measure of assistance than that based on the recent Tariff Board Report?
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§ Earl WINTERTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. During the last session of the Indian Legislature a Bill was introduced by Government and passed which altered the import duty of 5 per cent. on cotton yarn to a duty of 1½ annas a pound or 5 per cent. ad valorem, which ever is higher. In my reply on the 7th July to the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Snell), I stated that the Government of India had announced their intention of introducing in the coming session of the Legislative Assembly a Bill for the removal of duties on machinery and certain mill stores. This Bill has been introduced and passed, and some additions were made after the Conference of 12th July to the list of machinery and mill stores to be exempted. A copy of a Press communique issued by the Government of India on the 16th August explaining the effect of these concessions in more detail is being sent to the hon. Member.