§ 51. Sir John Mellorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will specify the cases during the past 12 months in which the Import Duties Advisory Committee, while deciding not to make a recommendation. have supplied the Government with a memorandum; and whether, in any and which of such cases, a reference to the terms of the memo- 205 randum has been published by the Government?
§ Sir J. SimonThe cases in which the Import Duties Advisory Committee, while deciding that they would not be prepared to make a recommendation, have supplied the Government with a memorandum of their conclusions relate to applications in respect of duties covered by trade agreements. My hon. Friend will, I am sure, appreciate that in these cases it is as a rule undesirable to disclose the position in advance of trade negotiations. The only cases of this kind in which the Government have published the decision of the committee were those relating to the applications for Increased duties on butter and cheese, and eggs in shell and table poultry.
§ Sir J. MellorWill my right hon. Friend say what was the objection to disclosing the whole of the contents of the memoranda on these cases instead of only a partial quotation?
§ Sir J. SimonThe hon. Gentleman, I think, has asked that question before. The publication is made for the general information. It is plainly the case that, if there are trade negotiations now or in the future, it is not in all cases desirable to make a more complete statement.