New Clause. — (Establishment and constitution of Indian Tariff Board.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Government of India Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 30 April 1935.

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Photo of Sir Cyril Entwistle Sir Cyril Entwistle , Bolton

I rise for only two minutes to deal with a point made by the Under-Secretary for India in his speech last night. He made particular reference to the admission of the Movers of the Clause that the adoption of the recommendations of the Tariff Advisory Board which it is proposed to set up by the Clause would not be obligatory on the Indian Government, and therefore that it would not provide a safeguard for the trade of Lancashire or any other trades in this country. I submit that that is not an argument which will carry conviction to the Committee. The Tariff Advisory Board would be of such a character that its impartiality would be recognised by all parties. If they made a recommendation which, of course, would not be published, that would provide a very effective safeguard against duties being levied contrary to agreements which had been entered into between this country and India, or not levied in accordance with what they have now agreed to be the principle upon which these duties are to be levied, that is, to equate conditions in the home market reasonably to conditions prevailing in this country.

If this impartial Tariff Advisory Board were set up, the recommendations it made would provide a very effective safeguard. In the circumstances I cannot see why it is not possible for the Government to accept the proposed new Clause, or at any rate something on the lines of it. Nobody can say that to ensure that questions of this sort should be dealt with by a body which is admittedly impartial is unfair to India, or in any way derogates from the self-government which is given to India by this Bill. It may be said that it is derogating from the sovereignty of the government given to India that this Advisory Board should be set up by any other Government than the Government of India, but in the Bill there is provision after provision putting in safeguards for the preliminary stage, before we are quite sure that India will be worthy of the self-government which is to be established in that country. It is not unreasonable also to put in that the investigation of these very vital matters should be in the hands of a body of an impartial character set up by the Governor-General in consultation with the Secretary of State, who has so many other powers which are regarded as safeguards. In the circumstances, I once more press upon the Government to give an indication to Lancashire that the principles embodied in the proposed new Clause will be carried out either by the acceptance of the proposed new Clause or by the presentation of some other Clause upon the Report stage.