§ Sir D. EcclesI beg to move, in page 8, line 9, at the end to insert:
(2) As soon as may be after the end of each financial year (beginning with the year 1957–58) the Board of Trade shall lay before each House of Parliament a report as to the orders under which duties have been chargeable under this Act during that year, indicating the contents of those orders and their operation in that year in relation to goods which have been imported into the United Kingdom.In Committee my right hon. and learned Friend undertook that we would table an Amendment providing that the Board of Trade should lay before each House of Parliament an annual report. We think that this is the best way to do it. We have chosen the financial year as the period which should be covered by the reports, because it is convenient that the Customs and Excise, who collect figures for the purposes of the national accounts, should also provide the figures for the same period for these reports.
§ Mr. Sydney Irving (Dartford)As the Amendment is the substance of one which I moved in Committee, I thank the right hon. Gentleman for implementing the undertaking which was given. I am sure that this will mean that the whole question of Orders can be kept under review in the Board of Trade, and that hon. Members will have an opportunity to examine them, if they wish, as they arise each year. The provision is very welcome to my hon. Friends and myself.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Bill to be read the Third time upon Monday next.