HC Deb 23 October 1919 vol 120 cc171-2
20. Mr. GEORGE THORNE

asked the Prime Minister under what statutory authority the Board of Trade restricts imports of dumped goods?

23. Mr. KILEY

asked the Prime Minister under what statutory authority the Board of Trade restricts imports of dumped goods?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The Board of Trade are not at present restricting the import of any goods on the ground of their being dumped.

Mr. TERRELL

May I ask when the promised legislation will be introduced to deal with this matter?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

That is a question which should be addressed to the Leader of the House.

Mr. TERRELL

This question is addressed to the Leader of the House, and may I ask him for an answer?

Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)

The question was, but the supplementary was not. A Bill is prepared and is now under discussion by the Cabinet, and will be introduced as soon as possible.

Mr. TERRELL

Within the next week or two?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I hope so.

21. Mr. RAFFAN

asked the Prime Minister under what Statutory authority the Board of Trade restricts imports for the protection of key industries?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I have been asked to reply. The restrictions on imports to which my hon. Friend alludes are at present in force by virtue of Proclamations issued under Section 43 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876.

Mr. LAMBERT

Has there been any legal testing of the legality or illegality of the Proclamation and is the Board of Trade satisfied that they are acting within their legal rights?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The Board of Trade has taken advice on the matter, but I am not aware of any test action being taken.

Mr. KILEY

asked the Prime Minister under what Statutory authority the Board of Trade makes orders restricting the imports in cases of collapsed exchanges?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The Board of Trade have not made any orders of the kind referred to by the hon. Member.

11. Captain W. BENN

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the test applied for dumping; and was it that the goods were sold in this country at a lower price than they were sold in the country of origin or at a lower price than that at which the same goods were sold in this country?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The hon. and gallant Member appears to be under some misapprehension. At present there is no antidumping action being taken. A Bill to deal with the matter is to be introduced at an early date, when the precise nature of the test to be applied will be determined by Parliament.