§ 66. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any facts indicating whether any improvement is yet taking place in the tool-making section of the engineering industry since the issue of the Order imposing duties on imported tools?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt is obviously too early to reach conclusions as to the effect of an Order which only came into force last Wednesday.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs it not of the first importance that we should know precisely whether these duties are having an effect for good or ill; and can we have an assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that he has the machinery for noting any change which takes place in the protected industries?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir, the matter is being watched very carefully and, as I said yesterday, as soon as there is any information, in which the House would take an interest, I shall be very glad to give it to the House.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODSeeing that the engineering industry is in such a deplorable condition and that they are anxious to know what benefit is going to accrue from the operation of these duties, we have put down this question, but we have not got any satisfactory reply yet.