§ 41. Mr. SOPERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the question of the 10 per cent. import duty on partly-squared Norway timber, which is used for plops and bars in coal mines, has been before the Import Duties Advisory Committee for several months; and when a decision is likely to be reached?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hore-Belisha)I regret that I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 4th May.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the hon. Gentleman say how long it will be before a decision is reached, seeing that the case has been before the committee for five months? Does it take longer to consider putting articles on the Free List than putting additional duties on other articles?
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLWas not a pledge given in the House that duty would not be chargeable on this timber?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThat pledge has been observed.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the hon. Gentleman tell us what opportunity any Member of the House may have of approaching the Advisory Committee in a case of this kind?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe whole idea of the Import Duties Advisory Committee is that it should be free from political pressure. When a request is made to the committee by a particular interest, it proceeds with a proper investigation, and a full investigation must take time.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan we be assured that, when applications are made to include an article in the Free List, they receive the same sort of treatment as applications to increase a duty?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACertainly.