§ 18. Mr. HOGGEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, a complaint was recently referred to a Committee in respect of scientific instruments imported from. Germany on which the complainants desired the duty to be increased from 33⅓ per cent. to 66⅔per cent.; that the Electrical Importers' and Traders' Association inquired at his Department as to whether this application covered electrical instruments, and was informed that it did; that on account of this information steps were taken at considerable expense to formulate evidence in respect of electrical instruments; whether he is aware that, on the introduction of the evidence in question, the complainants stated that they did not propose to press their application for a duty in so far as electrical instruments were concerned; and whether he will take steps to see that the precise scope of these complaints is more accurately defined before such proceedings are started, in order that traders may not be involved in entirely unnecessary inconvenience and expense?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe scope of this complaint, as originally defined by the applicants to the Board of Trade and the Committee, included electrical instruments, but I am informed that at a later stage of the inquiry the applicants withdrew that part of the complaint which related to electrical instruments of 24 specified classes. Every effort is made to ensure that the scope of complaints referred to Committees is defined so far as practicable.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes the right hon. Gentleman really appreciate the unnecessary inconvenience thus caused to traders'? Cannot he do something to prevent the making of these indeterminate complaints?
§ Mr. BALDWINI agree with my hon. Friend, but I have no control over those who make the complaints. They can withdraw them if they choose.
§ Mr. HOGGECannot the right hon. Gentleman make some Regulation which would render it impossible for people to bring complaints unless they are really definite?
§ Mr. BALDWINI thought my Regulations were unpopular.
§ Mr. KILEYCannot the right hon. Gentleman take some action to secure that these people shall pay the costs arising from their making charges and then running away from them?