§ Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the reason why the Malayan Government has abandoned the proposed preferential duty of 5 per cent. on tobacco manufactured in Great Britain; whether the preference now given by Malaya is really a preference or merely an exemption from increased duties; and whether any other Colonies have given or announced their intention to give increased preferences to the Mother Country?
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§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Federated Malay States Government has not withdrawn the preference on manufactured tobacco which it granted on 14th March; but I understand that a special regulation defining the conditions of eligibility for that preference has been repealed with effect from 16th April. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on 13th of April, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a. copy.