HC Deb 25 April 1961 vol 639 cc222-3
26. Mr. Steele

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for aid have been made to the Board of Trade Advisory Committee from West Dunbartonshire; and how many have been granted.

Mr. N. Macpherson

Applications have been received from seven firms. Three have been offered assistance—though one has refused the offer—three have been rejected, and one is still under consideration.

Mr. Steele

That means that so far none has been given any assistance. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that recently, when he was kind enough to meet a deputation from my constituency in which the assistance of the Board of Trade was offered, B.O.T.A.C. was, on the same day, turning down an application from a firm in my constituency, which was to extend an application which I had vetted and which I felt was one which could be accepted?

In view of the fact that that application has been turned down, the firm is likely to go out of business. Can the hon. Gentleman say whether anything further can be done by the Board of Trade? Surely he ought to do something, because it is now being widely said that the only firm which is successful in getting an application granted is one which does not require assistance.

Mr. Macpherson

I believe that the other two which were offered assistance have accepted it and, therefore, it will be forthcoming.

I will look into the second part of the question and consider whether anything can be done, but, as has been pointed out, the Board of Trade Advisory Committee makes recommendations and our powers are only to accept the recommendations for assistance or to refuse them. The Board of Trade has no power itself to override the Board of Trade Advisory Committee.