§ 9. Mr. RAMSDENasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of applications for safeguarding of industries received up to the end of June; the number rejected by the Board of Trade; the number of committees set up; and the 1018 number of applications that have been successful?
§ Sir P, CUNLIFFE-LISTERAt the end of June, 41 definite applications under the White Paper relating to the Safeguarding of Industries had been received by my Department. Of these 21 have been rejected as not disclosing a prima facie case for reference to a committee, and two were, withdrawn, Committees have been appointed to consider 12 applications, and safeguarding duties have been imposed in six cases.
§ Mr. HARRISWill the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to give the House the names of the industries which have applied and were not allowed to make good their case
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir. In accordance with the policy which was followed under the previous Act, I think it is in the interest of British industry not to disclose the industries which have made application and failed. That would be to disclose to foreign competitors that the English industries were in difficulties, although the remedy was not applicable.
Captain BENNCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Hosiery Committee will report this Session
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI would like to have notice of that question.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "definite application"? What is the nature of this definite application?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERBy "definite application" I mean a firm application, as opposed to general tentative inquiries. Anybody may ask for information, even the hon. and gallant Gentleman.