§ Mr. GARDNERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in the Report presented to Parliament of the visit paid by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies last year to Malaya, Ceylon, and Java, the figures given in regard to the tin industry of Malaya are in disagreement with the figures given officially by the Malaya Government; whether he is aware that the estimate quoted in the Report from an unnamed authority that, at the present rate of production, Malaya was good for at least another 200 years of tin mining contradicts all the accepted authorities, geological and engineering, who have investigated the subject; and whether he will have the Report revised before a fresh edition is published?
§ Mr. AMERYIf the hon. Member will give my right hon. Friend particulars of the alleged discrepancies, he will no doubt look into the question. As regards tin, my right hon. Friend is aware that the exhaustion of the Malayan deposits has frequently been prophesied.