§ 6. Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieuasked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements can be made for the import, free of duty, of small quantities of fabrics which British textile machinery makers require for experimental purposes.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftSection 11 of the Finance Act, 1950, provides that duty-free Licences may be granted by the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Board of Trade, for goods imported for examination or tests with a view to promoting or improving the manufacture of similar goods in the United Kingdom. My Department is always ready to consider applications.
§ Mr. MallalieuCould the President of the Board of Trade please expedite the granting of licences, because the delay to which the imports of these experimental fabrics are subject is discouraging foreign buyers of British textile machinery?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI am aware of one case, upon which I think my hon. Friend has written to the hon. Member. I am anxious that these applications should be expedited, and I think that if the applicant in that case had stated quite fully what his purpose was he would have had his application granted rather more quickly.