DYESTUFFS. (Hansard, 20 March 1922)

§ 13. Mr. KILEY
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the considerable dissatisfaction which exists as to the methods adopted by the Dyes Advisory Committee in the granting or refusal of licences, he is prepared to consider the desirability of setting up some tribunal of appeal, similar to the Court of Referees established under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, which shall be free from Government control and empowered to arbitrate finally in cases of dispute?

§ 17. Major M. WOOD
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the complaints by dye users that they are being compelled to use British dyes which are not fast and thus are losing trade, he can see his way to set up some form of appeal from the decisions by the Licensing Committee?

§ Mr. BALDWIN
I would refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton West (Mr. Newbould) on the 6th March, to which I have nothing to add.

§ Mr. KILEY
But, since then, complaints have been growing every day, and they come from Glasgow and Belfast. Surely some action should be taken.

§ Mr. BALDWIN
The hon. Member has seen the answer which has been given. I am quite satisfied myself with regard to the competence and impartiality of the Committee, and I am sure that if there were a general desire for such a court of appeal as he suggests, I should have many representations made to me direct from the trade. I have not yet had such representations.

Mr. TERRELL
Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that these complaints are of a trivial character—of no importance whatever?

§ Major WOOD
Does the right hon. Gentleman see the objection there is to people complaining against an appeal committee who are likely to hear complaints from themselves later on?

§ 16. Major WOOD
asked the President of the Board of Trade the estimated value of German reparation dyes handed over for sale to the Central Importing Agency for the 12 months ending 31st December, 1921; the amount realised for the same; and the amount of profit or commission made by the agency in question?

§ Mr. BALDWIN
The estimated value of German reparation dyes handed over for sale to the Central Importing Agency for the 12 months ended 31st December, 1921, was £75,000. I am unable to state what these particular dyes realised, but accounts will be prepared in the ordinary course as at 31st March, 1922, and these will be available later. A commission of 3½ per cent. on realisations, which includes charges for freight, storage, and distribution, is paid to the agency.

§ 22. Major WOOD
asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the names of the members of the Committees set up under Section 2 (3) and Section 2 (6) of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, 1920; what are the salaries or allowances received by them; how many meetings each Committee has held; what is the average attendance; and how many form a quorum in each case?

§ Mr. BALDWIN
I will circulate a list of the members of the two Committees in the OFFICIAL REPORT. NO salaries and allowances are paid to members of either Committee. The Licensing Committee has held 36 meetings and the Development Committee five meetings, and in both cases practically all the members have attended regularly. A quorum for the Licensing Committee consists of one independent member, one dye-making representative and two consumer representatives. No quorum has been fixed for the Development Committee.