HC Deb 10 February 1959 vol 599 c999
42. Mr. Gower

asked the President of the Board of Trade what evidence he has regarding the effectiveness of the 4s. duty, which he imposed under the Anti-Dumping (No. 1) Order in January, 1958, in giving protection to the British silicone industry against the material injury which they were suffering by reason of this dumping; and what further action he proposes to take in the matter.

Mr. J. Rodgers

The effectiveness of this duty is kept under regular review.

Mr. Gower

As this is the only antidumping Order yet introduced and as this duty will be quite ineffective to meet the dumping of protected French silicones, will my hon. Friend look at this matter and reconsider whether the duty should be increased?

Mr. Rodgers

If the Board of Trade were to take any specific action either to increase, reduce or remove the duty, I think the hon. Gentleman would agree that it would be improper to give any prior notification of that action because it would have the obvious risk of forestalling or withholding supplies from the market in anticipation of a change.