§ 48. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government is aware that the difficulties of the timber trade, both native and foreign, are aggravated by the delay of the Import Duties Advisory Committee in coming to a decision upon the application for additional duties on timber which were lodged in the early summer of last year; and whether he will take such steps as lie in his power to enable earlier decisions to be reached?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMy hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that the question of additional duties on timber is a very complicated subject with wide ramifications but I have no reason to suppose that the Committee are not proceeding with due expedition in this matter. With regard to the last part of the question I would refer him to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bournemouth (Sir H. Croft) on the 20th December last of which I am sending him a copy.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs the hon. Member aware that there is a great deal 1578 of unemployment owing to the difficulty experienced by timber merchants in buying British timber and cannot he for the sake of the unemployed in the rural districts do something to hurry up a decision?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI think my hon. and gallant Friend will find the answer to which I have referred him is exhaustive.
§ Mr. WHITEIs the Financial Secretary aware that one of the difficulties in the way of the export trade is the increased cost of packages of every kind?