§ 56. Mr. LEONARDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total cost incurred in the work of the Import Duties Advisory Committee and its staff in the last financial year, together with the total of the salaries of such officials at the Treasury and the Board of Trade as are engaged on duties connected with import duties and the issue of import licences?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe total cost of the Import Duties Advisory Committee and its staff for the last financial year was approximately £42.000, consisting of £37,500 for salaries and wages and £4,500 for rent, stationery, postage and incidental expenses. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question there is no branch of the Treasury or the Board of Trade solely engaged on work arising out of import duties or the issue of import licences, and no apportionment can be made of the cost of the services rendered by those Departments in connection with that work.