§ 40. Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for additional duties have been granted in the past 12 months; and what were the intervals between the date of the application and the date of the order in each case?
Mr. MORRISONDuring the last 12 months 33 Orders have been made by the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee, for the variation of additional duties. I am advised that it is difficult to say in many cases at what date tentative inquiries become a definite and documented application by the industry concerned. Moreover, an application may be held in abeyance by the applicants, or by the Import Duties Advisory Committee, on the ground that the time is not ripe to take a definite decision either to reject it or to make a recommendation. I do not think I should be justified in asking the Committee to undertake the lengthy research that would be involved in endeavouring to estimate periods and which could not, for the reasons just given, convey any useful information.
§ Sir J. NALLIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that a number of applications are indefinitely held up without any decision having been given?
Mr. MORRISONNo, Sir, I am not aware of that, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind in which he thinks I could be of assistance, I shall be very willing to look into it.