§ 48. Mr. N. MACLEANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that the industries for whose benefit tariffs have been imposed are efficiently organised and managed; and, if not, whether he proposes to set up a committee or committees to inquire 799 into the conditions of such industries as the Government consider require re organisation?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAHis Majesty's Government are fully alive to the importance of securing that tariffs are not used as a shelter for industrial in efficiency. But they see no reason for setting up committees of the kind suggested, as the Import Duties Advisory Committee already have this aspect of their work under review.
§ Mr. HANNONIs it not a fact, having regard to the difficult circumstances of the time, and the ordeal through which British industries have passed in the last several years, that in efficiency they can compare favourably with the rest of the world?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWe are giving them the conditions in which they should become efficient.
§ Mr. MACLEANIn the event of any inquiries being made by the Tariff Committee as to the efficiency or inefficiency of these industries, who will be the deciding factor in determining whether a particular industry is so inefficient as to require the removal of the tariff put on to protect it?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThere are ample sanctions vested both in the Committee and in the Government for securing the efficiency, wherever it can be secured, of British industry.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDo we understand the hon. Member to suggest that the Advisory Committee, with their multifarious duties, are also to be the arbiters as to whether or not an industry is efficient?