§ Mr. SMITHERSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware of the harm done to the tea industry of the Empire by the removal of the Tea Duty in 1929; and, as the duty was in operation from 1660 to 1929 will he, when framing his Budget proposals, consider the re-imposition of the Tea Duty with a preference for Empire-produced tea;
(2) in view of the estimated marketing of 70,000,000 lbs. of tea in this country during the next few years, chiefly from 2068W Sumatra, what steps he proposes to take to protect the interests of Empire producers?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs I have already stated in reply to similar recent questions, I am unable to make any statement on this subject at present.