LACE INDUSTRY (RESEARCH LEVY) (Hansard, 27 November 1956)

§ Mr. Douglas Jay (Battersea, North)

I think that this Order which the Government have brought before us, deals with a very small point, but perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary would explain to us what he is doing. I understand that there is a levy for research in this industry, which was instituted in 1955, and that the Government now wish to alter the basis on which that levy is imposed in such a way as to be sure that the actual amount of money raised from each section of the industry remains the same as it has been in the past year.

I want to ask him whether that is correct. Does it mean that in order to produce this result we shall have to have another Order of this kind each year and. if so, just why do we have to proceed in that rather peculiar manner?

§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. F. J. Erroll)

This Order, which will come into force on 1st January, 1957, amends the Order made a year ago under which levies are imposed on the lace industry to finance the Lace Research Association. The effect of the Order is to adjust the rates of the levy to take into account changes in the level of trade. The total sum raised is unaltered. The changes are similar to those made in previous years and they are made with the agreement of the employers' associations and the trade unions concerned because the object is to ensure that the same amount of money is raised for the Research Association each year, taking account of the varying levels of trade within the different sections of the lace industry itself.

It is therefore necessary to produce before the House an Order each year so as to make the necessary changes to ensure a fair distribution of the levy in the light of the changed circumstances of the previous trading period. I can, if the right hon. Gentleman wishes, give 357 him details of what the changes constitute, but they are not very big, and they are obviously fair as between one section of the trade and another.