§ Sir BURTON CHADWICKasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a statement, reported in the Press recently, from Mr. Winston Churchill, the late Colonial Secretary, regarding the legislation initiated by him, and passed by the Government of Ceylon and Malaya, to safeguard the plantation rubber industry; whether he is aware that the statement referred to, and the published reports of a meeting of Members of Parliament on the 7th instant with representatives of the rubber trade, have caused uncertainty (particularly among the native producers) as to the intention of the Government; and whether the Government has any intention of modifying the provisions of the Stevenson scheme?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORE:I have seen in the Press the statements to which my hon. Friend refers. No modification of the scheme is under contemplation, and His Majesty's Government intend to continue the policy initiated by the late Secretary of State for the Colonies in this matter.