§ Mr. PILCHERasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the statement, made officially in their evidence before the Empire Marketing Board by the representatives of the Indian Tea Association, that. the Indian Tea Association were refused assistance when they applied to the Empire Marketing Board; and whether, in view of the expansion of the imports of Java teas from 19,000,000 pounds in 1919 to 64,000,000 pounds in 1927, he will suggest to the Empire Marketing Board the desirability of affording assistance to the Indian and Ceylon tea trade?
§ Mr. AMERYThe Indian Tea Association have been in informal communication with the Board in regard to the possibility of assistance from the Empire Marketing Fund to research work and to publicity on behalf of Indian tea. The latter possibility is under present consideration by the Board, and the position has been explained to the Association. The evidence to which my hon. Friend refers was, I understand, given before the Royal Commission on Indian Agriculture.