§ 32. Captain DOWERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of cases which have been submitted to the Import Duties Advisory Committee by the different trades concerned and on which no reports have hitherto been issued by this committee; the numbers of cases on which the Import Duties Advisory Committee have issued reports to the British Government although these have not been published; and whether there is any congestion of 1652 business on the Committee which prevents their acceptance for the time being of any new cases?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWith regard to the first part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 9th May to the hon. Member for South-West St. Pancras (Mr. Mitcheson), of which I am sending him a copy. The Act requires the Treasury to publish any recommendation as soon as may be after they have made an order or determined not to make an order, and this procedure has, of course, been followed. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative.
§ 39. Mr. HENDERSON STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he is aware that prohibitive import duties have been placed by the Australian Government upon British-made sports goods; and whether he proposes taking any action with a view to extending the trade of British manufacturers of these goods in Australia?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the DOMINIONS (Mr. Thomas)I am aware that the duties imposed in Australia on sports goods are at a high level. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Articles 11 and 14 of the United Kingdom-Australia Trade Agreement.