§ 51. Mr. Pooleasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many applications for remission of import duties under Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1924. are at present under consideration by his Department, or have been under consideration since the last Budget other than those which had been submitted before the final closing time.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI assume that the hon. Member has in mind Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1932. On this assumption the answer is, "None, Sir."
§ Mr. PooleCan the Financial Secretary say why the engineering division of the Ministry of Supply are still writing to manufacturers—I have copies of letters of as recent date as January. 1953—saying that they have under consideration this Section and applications to be dealt with under this Section, and wasting the time of the manufacturers by asking if they can supply the necessary machines. Would it not be as well for him to tell the Minister of Supply what the Chancellor of the Exchequer said 12 months ago?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThat is a question which I think should properly be put to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. PooleThe responsibility under this Section lies with the Treasury, and is it not really remarkable that in this businessmen's Government a decision taken last March has apparently not yet gravitated down to the Minister of Supply, and will he do something about it?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not accept for a moment the implication of the hon. Member's supplementary question so far as the Minister of Supply is concerned, and I would suggest that the satisfactory manner of handling this matter is for him to argue this out with my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. PooleIn view of the hon. Gentleman's answer—and as I have copies of the correspondence—I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.