§ 64. Mr. Gibsonasked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the working party on export forms which he appointed in November last.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe working party to which my hon. Friend refers was set up to examine forms required by Government Departments in this country and also those for which shippers and others are responsible; and finally those required by overseas governments. It has now completed the first part of its task and has presented a report upon Government forms. The report and recommendations will be summarised in an early issue of the "Board of Trade Journal." After a careful review, the working party was satisfied that there was no undue delay in handling these forms; that the arrangements for dealing with them were sufficiently flexible to meet the circumstances; and that in general their scope and form could not be modified so long as the present controls must be maintained. Certain minor amendments of procedure were suggested, and are being implemented by the departments concerned. I am grateful to the working party, which was fully representative of the interests concerned, for its valuable report and I am glad to find confirmation of my own view that exporters are not worried by unnecessary forms or unimaginative procedure. The working party is now engaged on the second part of its task—the examination of forms required by banks, shippers, etc.
§ Mr. OsborneCan the Minister tell us whether there is any hope of the number of these forms being reduced in the near future?
§ Mr. WilsonSo far as the forms required for direct export are concerned, I think the working party was satisfied that it was impossible to reduce the number.