§ I now come to silk and artificial silk. The Committee may remember that last year I undertook to refer to the Import Duties Advisory Committee the whole question of the duties on silk, with the request that they would give me their recommendations, with a, view to imposing some element of protection. The present duties are principally revenue duties, although there is perhaps some protection in them. The subject is a complicated one, and highly technical. There are a number of different sections in the trade, with diverse and sometimes rival interests, and the task of the Advisory Committee has been rendered even more difficult and more laborious because I had to ask them continually to bear in mind the revenue considerations which were important from my own point of view. 51 The Committee have received a variety of representations from the industry. They have had many hearings but owing to the great complexity of the problem I regret to say that it is not possible for me to deal with it in the present Budget. As the Committee knows, when I do receive recommendations on these duties from the Import Duties Advisory Committee I cannot, as the law stands, make them operative by Treasury Order. As things are now they would have to wait until the introduction of another Budget. I think that is undesirable. Apart from the long delay which would be involved there are general grounds, I think, for transferring this matter to the purview of the Import Duties Advisory Committee. Therefore, I propose to alter the situation and to apply the machinery of the Import Duties Act to the silk and artificial silk industry. That will give them access to the Committee and it will enable the Treasury, by Order, to give effect to any recommendation that that Committee may make. Accordingly, I shall table a Resolution to that effect. Further Resolutions will be required to authorise minor amendments of the law shown by experience of the Import Duties Act to be advisable.