51. Captain SHAWasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of appointing an additional member to the Tariff Advisory Committee who will have a practical knowledge of Scottish conditions and of Scottish Agricultural conditions in particular?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hore-Belisha)In appointing the committee my right hon. Friend deliberately avoided choosing members on the ground of their special familiarity with the conditions of particular industries or particular parts of the United Kingdom, and he is satisfied that it would not be wise to change this policy.
Captain SHAWIs my hon. Friend aware that there is great dissatisfaction in Scotland owing to the delay which took place in coming to a decision on the question of potatoes, that this still obtains with regard to the question of oats, and that there is a feeling that we in Scotland cannot allow our interests in this matter to be left in the hands of English representatives any longer?
§ Mr. HANNONAre there not considerable delays in dealing with applications before the Import Duties Advisory Committee, and would it not be very helpful if an additional member were appointed to facilitate the hearing of applications?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe question asks if an additional member could be appointed for Scotland, and I confined myself to answering that question.
§ Mr. HANNONWould it not be useful if we could have an additional member for this country? Scotland cannot have sideration all the time.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am advised that the greater the number of members on a committee oftener the slower the speed.