41. Captain BENNasked the Lord Privy Seal whether His Majesty's Government has considered the recommendation of the Statutory Committee that a duty should be imposed on fabric gloves under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; whether a decision has been made; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Baldwin)I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Chippenham on Monday last. I hope to be in a position to make a statement on the subject at an early date.
Captain BENNWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question? What is the cause of the delay, inasmuch as the recommendations of the Committee have been in the hands of the Government for two months?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe simple cause of the delay is that I am seeing certain people who wish to put their case before me who were unable to put their case before the Committee.
Captain BENNIs not the right hon. Gentleman bound by the Statute to refer complaints to the Committee, and is he able to reverse the provisions of the Statute?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the combination of slump and dump German manufacturers can send their gloves into this country at half the price at which British manufacturers can make them, and that if a British manufacturer makes 40,000 of these gloves he can employ 250 hands, and will he frustrate the efforts of these free trade fraternisers?