§ 14. Mr. Holtasked the President of the Board of Trade how many materials or manufactured products cannot be purchased freely without a licence from, or the sponsorship of, his Department; whether he will give a list of such materials or manufactured products; and what is his policy towards the removal of such restrictions.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftA permit from the Board of Trade is at present required for the purchase of home-produced nylon yarn for the manufacture of nylon stockings, but this arrangement will terminate on 30th April. The purchase of six other materials for use by industries for whom the Board of Trade is the production Department is subject to licensing. I am circulating the details of these arrangements in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the last part of the Question, my policy on this, as on other matters, is to get rid of such restrictions as soon as conditions allow.
Following are the details:The purchase of steel, softwood and controlled hardwood for use in production for which the Board of Trade is the sponsoring authority, is subject to licensing by the Board of Trade. By arrangement with the Ministry of Materials, the purchase in the United Kingdom of selenium and diatomaceous earth imported from dollar sources for use in Board of Trade industries is restricted to firms whose need is sponsored by the Board of Trade. The purchase of starch for use in Board of Trade industries is subject to licensing by the Ministry of Food against sponsorship by the Board of Trade.
§ 16. Mr. Holtasked the President of the Board of Trade how many orders issued by his Department are still operative which prohibit or limit the use of any material in the manufacture or construction of any article or structure; whether he will give a list of any such materials so affected; and what is his policy concerning the removal of such restrictions.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThere is only one Order, namely, the Nickel Prohibited Uses (Board of Trade) Order, 1951 (S.I. 1049 of 1951): and the only materials affected are nickel and nickel alloys. As regards the last part of the Question, my policy is to remove the remaining restrictions under this Order as soon as I can; but, so long as there is a world shortage of nickel and supplies remain subject to international allocation, we must continue to exercise economy in its use and to concentrate on meeting the needs of defence and other essential industries.