§ 5. Mr. KILEYasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has received under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, Part II, for the imposing of a duty on imported goods; whether he can say how many he has refused; and when the other applications will be dealt with?
§ Mr. BALDWINApproximately 100 trades or branches of trades have communicated with the Board, but the majority of these communications have not progressed beyond the stage of inquiry with a view to formulating complaints. Twenty-one complaints have been rejected or withdrawn. I am unable to inform the hon. Member when the other applications will be dealt with, but he may be assured that no avoidable delay will take place after the requisite information has been received to enable the Board of Trade to consider them.
§ Mr. KILEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the disturbance to trade while these inquiries are pending?
§ 20. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state his reasons for refusing to furnish Members with copies of the Reports of the Committees which have reported in favour of imposing duties under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and whether, considering that some of 1765 these Reports have been several months in his possession and no action taken, it is to be understood that Part II of the Act is not to be put; into operation?
§ Mr. BALDWINAs I have already informed my hon. Friend on the 4th May, it is proposed to present these Reports to Parliament. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. TERRELLWhen does the right hon. Gentlemen propose to present these Reports. Is he aware that there is one Report, at least, that has been in his possession three months; and is ho further aware that these are not Reports of private Departmental Committees, but of statutory bodies, and will he not take steps to publish them at once?
Dr. MURRAYIs there any truth in the report in the Coalition Press that the Government intend to withdraw the Act?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the original question.
§ Mr. TERRELLMay I have an answer to my question?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am aware of most of the statements made by my hon. Friend, but I am not in a position yet to publish the Reports.
§ Mr. KILEYHas the right hon. Gentleman received a request from some of the trades not to publish the information, as it might be detrimental to those trades?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am not aware of that fact.