§ 46. Mr. PIKEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that large numbers of persons previously holding non-insurable positions in the iron and steel industry have, as the result of the reorganisation proposals of the Tariff Advisory Committee, recently been dismissed; and what steps the Government propose to take to ensure that the knowledge and experience of the individuals concerned is not lost to British iron and steel production and to re-absorb them into industry?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI think my hon. Friend must be under a misapprehension. The Import Duties Advisory Committee have not drawn up any scheme for the reorganisation of the steel industry. The position is that at a meeting with representatives of the industry on 3rd June, the Import Duties Advisory Committee 436 made it clear that, provided the industry was prepared to carry through a satisfactory scheme of reorganisation, it was their intention to recommend such measure of protection as was necessary to make the scheme effective. Representatives of the industry are in process of drawing up proposals which are not yet complete.
§ Mr. PIKEIs the Minister aware that in some cases these proposals are already taking effect, with the consequences stated in the question?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI think my hon. Friend is under a complete misapprehension. The Advisory Committee have not put any scheme into execution at all.