§ 80. Mr. Kellyasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of auto- 1118 matic machine tools Entering this country duty free during 1937, and also the country of origin?
§ Captain WallaceIn 1937 licences under Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1932, were issued for the importation free of duty of 710 automatic machine tools, of which 422 came from the United States of America, 160 from Germany, 108 from Switzerland and 20 from Czechoslovakia.
§ Mr. KellyWhy is it that while two makers in this country were putting their workers on short time or putting them off work altogether we went abroad for machine tools which can be made here?
§ Captain WallaceThe procedure under the Act is perfectly well known to the hon. Member. A certificate is not given if there are grounds for supposing that the tools can be produced in this country.
§ Mr. R. GibsonCan the Minister say whether, when machinery is being made for export, the tools which are necessary may be imported into this country free of duty?
§ Captain WallaceI would prefer to see that question on the Paper.