HC Deb 14 December 1937 vol 330 cc961-2
21. Mr. Lyons

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the increase of, approximately, 600,000 pairs of women's footwear imported from foreign countries for the first 10 months of 1937, and that an application for increased duty has been refused to the British industry by the Import Duties Advisory Committee; and whether he will publish the grounds of this refusal, so that the position may be met and the application renewed in the interests of British employment?

Mr. Stanley

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the Import Duties Advisory Committee are not required under the Import Duties Act to make a report to the Government when they refuse to make a recommendation, and I understand that it is not the practice of the committee to publish a statement of the grounds of refusal.

Mr. Lyons

Was the application made by the British manufacturers submitted to the foreign manufacturers for their observations before the committee gave a decision, and will the right hon. Gentleman now reconsider the matter in view of the deleterious effect that these importations are having on the trade?

Mr. Stanley

It is not a question of my reconsidering the matter. If the industry in question has any new facts to lay before the Import Duties Advisory Committee, it is at liberty to renew its application.

Mr. Lyons

Will my right hon. Friend ask the committee to reconsider this matter, as the right hon. Gentleman says has been their practice, and will he ask them to supply the British industry with the particulars on which this refusal is based?

Mr. Stanley

No, Sir; this has been the general practice ever since the committee started; it has been satisfactory and I am not prepared to vary it.