§ 25. Mr. PIKEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the considerable injury to British manufacturers upon the home and Dominion markets caused by the inadequacy of the 50 per cent. datum line established by the Order of 1st April; and whether he is able to state at what period the industries concerned can expect a fulfilment of the promise that the percentage would be raised where satisfactory evidence of injury had been submitted?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)I presume my hon. Friend is referring to the Regulations which came into force on 1st April requiring certain classes of goods imported from the Empire to contain a minimum of 50 per cent. of Empire materials and labour in order to qualify for Imperial preference. I am aware that certain trades consider that this requrement is too low for their particular circumstances, but my right hon. Friend must be given time to observe the effect of the new Regulations, which have only been in force a month, before considering applications for the variation of the percentage, either upwards or downwards, in respect of particular goods.
§ Dr. BURGINObviously, as we are dealing with particular trades, one estimate of time would probably not be sufficient, but in any event my right hon. Friend means several months by "reasonable time."
§ Mr. PIKEIs it not a fact that the trades concerned were assured that, if they discovered that 50 per cent. was insufficient and submitted evidence to that effect, an additional supplementary order would be made immediately to cover what was required?
§ Dr. BURGINThat depends entirely on the nature of the evidence.