HC Deb 26 November 1936 vol 318 cc548-9
42. Mr. KEELING

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, in future notices appearing upon the Order Paper of motions for approval of Import Duty Orders, he will, for the convenience of the House, state the subject of the Order as well as its number?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)

The suggestion made by my hon. Friend has already been considered from time to time, in connection with the allied suggestion that an indication of the goods covered by an Import Duties Order should appear upon the cover of the Command Paper containing the recommendation and Order; but it has always been found that the practical objections outweigh the obvious convenience of such a step. A complete description of the subject matter of an Order might well entail something like the reproduction of the whole Order, but anything less than a complete description might mislead the House and give rise to questions as to whether the terms of the Notice covered the subject matter. My hon. Friend is no doubt, aware that the list of Sessional Printed Papers delivered to the House does state the principal article to which the particular Import Duty Order refers.