§ 71. Mr. Louis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the repeal of so much of Part 1, Section 11, of the Import Duties Act, 1932, which permits free entry when goods imported into the United Kingdom are consigned direct to a registered shipbuilding yard; and whether his advises show that such assistance to Hull builders is or is not any longer needed to the detriment of marine engineers?
§ 76. Mr. Liddallasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the value of the imports of marine internal-combustion engines admitted free of duty into registered shipbuilding yards during the year ended 1936 amounted to over £395,000 as compared with £126,000 in the previous 12 months; and whether he will take steps to protect this industry from this unfair foreign competition?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Dr. Burgin)My attentions has been drawn to the increase in duty free imports to registered shipyards during 1936, but as at present advised my right hon. Friend sees no sufficient reason for proposing the amendment of Section 11 of the Import Duties Act, 1932.
§ Mr. L. SmithHaving regard to the outstanding advance in the shipbuilding industry during the last few years, does not my hon. Friend consider that to-day this exemption, which has so adversely affected the marine engineering trade, is no longer necessary and that it is hardly equitable to all the interests concerned?