HC Deb 01 March 1932 vol 262 cc946-8
47. Colonel GRETTON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can announce the names of the chairman and members of the Import Duties Advisory Committee?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

As the House is aware, the Act provides for an Import Duties Advisory Committee consisting of a Chairman and not less than two or more than five other members. For the position of Chairman the Government have been fortunate enough to secure the services of Sir George May, Whose name is already well known to the House in connection with the Committee on Economy appointed by the late Labour Government. The other members of the Committee, which for the present will be limited to three in number, are:

Sir Sydney John Chapman, late Chief Economic Adviser to His Majesty's Government, and Sir George Allan Powell, Chairman of the Food Council, formerly Clerk to the Metropolitan Asylums Board and until now Chief Officer of Public Assistance, London County Council.

The Secretary of the Committee is Mr. Percy Ashley, until now head of the Industries and Manufactures Department of the Board of Trade, who has under him a small staff of administrative, statistical and clerical officers drawn from the Civil Service. Offices have been established for the use of the Committee at Caxton House West, Tothill Street, Westminster, and the Committee met and held its first meeting there at 12 o'clock this morning.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Have the salaries of the chairman and other members of the committee been fixed, and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman state what the figures are?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The salary of the chairman has been fixed at £5,000 per annum, and the salary of the other members of the committee at £3,000 per annum.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Has the right hon. Gentleman consulted the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who said that £3,500 was too much for the chairman of the Colliery Organisation Committee?

Mr. BUCHANAN

Why are these salaries fixed at this rate? Is it not scabbing the chairman of the Coal Commission, who got £7,000 or 18,000? Further, was it only the chairmen appointed to these Commissions who were approved of by the Labour Government? Are there no new persons coming in?

Mr. HANNON

When will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement on the procedure to be adopted by this committee in dealing with applications from industries that desire additional duties?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member had better put a Question on the Paper.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is the committee now open to receive applications from those industries that want tariffs reduced?