26.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the concern expressed by the Prime Minister of Jamaica at the West Indies Constitutional Conference at the removal of safeguards for traditional and important West Indian export markets as a result of dollar liberalisation; what consultations Her Majesty's Government had with other Commonwealth, including colonial. Governments about the new measures of liberalisation of dollar imports to take effect on 1st August; why no forecast was made by his Department of changes in the pattern of United Kingdom imports likely to result from these measures; and whether he will now make a full statement on the Government's policy for the safeguarding of West Indian and other Commonwealth, including colonial, markets in the United Kingdom.
As regards the first and fourth parts of the Question, we shall continue to take Commonwealth interests fully into account in implementing our commitment to end discrimination against imports from the dollar area. As regards the second part, we consulted the Commonwealth Governments concerned before announcing these measures. As regards the third part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave him on 8th June.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say why the Board of Trade did not study the likely effect on these Commonwealth imports before deciding on liberalisation, and can my hon. Friend now assure me that the vital interests of our fellow subjects overseas will not be badly affected next August?
My right hon. and learned Friend did not say that he had not studied the effects. He said that it was impossible to forecast them. That is the situation. We consulted the Commonwealth countries with a view to ensuring that the timing of this had the least possible adverse impact on their sales.