§ 22. Mr. LYLE-SAMUELasked the President of the Board of Trade how many allegations of dumping have been received by his Department in support of applications for Orders under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; how many of these have been investigated by Committees appointed under the Act; and what has been the result of these investigations?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEAbout 140 trades or branches of trades have communicated with the Board since the coming into force of Part II of the Act in August, 1921, but the majority of these have not progressed beyond the stage of inquiry relating to the formulation of complaints. Fifteen complaints have been referred to Committees for inquiry, and of these five have been the subject of Orders made by the Board of Trade under Part II of the Act; eight have been adversely reported upon by the Committees; and in the two remaining cases the Reports of the Committees have been received and are under consideration.
Captain BENNCan the right hon. Gentleman say how long they have been under consideration? Would two months be about the period?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMENo, I do not think so. The hon. and gallant Gentleman is aware that there has been a General Election and that it was rather difficult, with a change of Government, to avoid some sort of interregnum, but there was no avoidable delay.
§ Major M. WOODIs there any reason why the right hon. Gentleman should not answer the question on the Paper as to how many of these complaints have been raised on the ground of dumping? That is the question.
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI think, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read my answer, he will see that I have dealt with that completely, but, speaking from memory, I think two cases of dumping in the ordinary sense were referred to I Committees.
§ Major WOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that that justifies this Act?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe hon. and gallant Gentleman will doubtless have a chance of expressing his opinion on that, but he knows perfectly well that the Act deals with a great many other things.