§ 11. Mr. Holtasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now withdraw tariff protection from all complete or partial monopolies, and from industries indulging in price-fixing agreements.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. I could not prejudge any proposal to adjust an Import Duty, but Her Majesty's Government would take into account all the 342 relevant factors, including the structure of the industry concerned.
§ Mr. HoltCan the Minister say how he aligns the two apparently contradictory policies of bringing in a stronger Monopolies Bill and, at the same time, giving tariff protection to those industries which are carrying out practices of which he apparently disapproves?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe question of tariff protection is a quite separate one which is judged upon well-established principles by the Government and, in appropriate cases, raised or lowered.