HC Deb 21 May 1928 vol 217 cc1497-9
44. Captain WATERHOUSE

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Board lays down any rules, or gives any advice, as to the permissibility of evidence to committees considering applications for safeguarding?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Herbert Williams)

No, Sir. Section IV of the White Paper lays down that a committee shall have power to determine its own procedure.

Captain WATERHOUSE

In view of the very considerable dissatisfaction that is felt in many quarters about the evidence that has been produced from foreign sources, at these inquiries, will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of issuing some instructions as to procedure?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I am afraid that I cannot.

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER

If there is any proposal of that kind, will the Government at the same time consider the necessity of making the safeguarding committees of a judicial character?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is another question.

60. Captain LODER

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether His Majesty's Customs were consulted by the Committee which investigated the application of the hosiery industry for safeguarding as to the feasibility of differentiating hosiery, chief value cotton, from ether hosiery imports?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I understand that the Committee reached their conclusion in regard to the administrative difficulty of dealing with mixtures of cotton and other materials in the event of a duty being confined to cotton hosiery, primarily as the result of trade evidence. The Customs were consulted informally but they were not asked for a definite expression of their views on this matter, as the Committee for other reasons had reached a conclusion adverse to the applicants.

Captain WATERHOUSE

Does not my hon. Friend think it very unfair that applicants were not given a chance to question the Customs especially in view of the fact that the first report led them to believe that when they reapplied their application would he successful.

Mr. WILLIAMS

The extent of the informal consultation was that a Customs official telephoned the Secretary of the Committee to inquire how the Committee was progressing, and was told that generally the report was likely to be adverse, but that there was a possibility of a duty on cotton hose and underwear. The Customs official made the comment that such a proposal might require some thinking over. That was the extent of the consultation.

Captain WATERHOUSE

Does not my hon. Friend think that important consultations like these make a really fair hearing quite impossible, and will he bear these conversations in mind when he is considering the request in my earlier question to fix some rules of procedure as to evidence.

Mr. WILLIAMS

There was not a consultation with the Committee. It was merely an informal conversation between the Secretary of the Committee and a Customs official initiated by the Customs official.

Captain WATERHOUSE

Would a learned Judge be allowed to have informal conversations with a witness on an important point?