HC Deb 25 July 1963 vol 681 cc1755-6
13. Mr. Milne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to inform unsuccessful applicants to the Board of Trade Advisory Committee of the reasons for refusal of their claims.

Mr. Erroll

I fully support the practice of the Committee not to disclose the specific reasons which lead it to reject particular applications.

Mr. Milne

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that it would be of considerable assistance to firms making applications to B.O.T.A.C. if there were more discussions with them as to the reasons why they are likely to be faced with refusal? I think that this piece of industrial assistance could be very well carried out by the President of the Board of Trade's Department. In many cases applicants are beginning to regard B.O.T.A.C. as a secret society from which they can get no information why applications are being turned down. This is a matter that requires the closest scrutiny and examination.

Mr. Erroll

This is a matter which was referred to by the Select Committee on Estimates, and I should prefer to avoid giving a detailed explanation in answer to a Question in advance of the observations which I shall be sending to the Committee in due course.

Mr. W. Hamilton

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how soon he will be making those observations?

Mr. Erroll

I am not yet in a position to give an exact date.