§ 4. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now remove the 15 per cent. import duty from acrylonitrile (chapter 29), niax polyol (within 39.19) and polyadipate esters (within 39.01 being material of the description specified in schedule 2 to the Import Duties (Temporary Exemptions) (No. 8) Order 1964) in order to assist employment in the man-made fibre industry in Northern Ireland.
§ 5. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now remove the 15 per cent. import duty from 1:6 hexolactam (within 29.37) and nylon 6 polymer (within 39.01 being material of the description specified in schedule 2 to the Import Duties (Temporary Exemptions) (No. 8) Order 1964) in order to assist employment in the manmade fibre industry in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. DiamondThe Answer is "No, Sir". I will consider the representations which have been made along with representations concerning other industries when the scope of the charge is reviewed, but I cannot make any commitment at present.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that it would be right to take the first opportunity to remove the 15 per cent. duty from these raw materials before any general removal from all materials?
§ Mr. DiamondI would certainly agree that it would be right to pay full attention to the representations made by the hon. and learned Gentleman together with other similar representations.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIn view of the importance of these new industries to Northern Ireland, will the hon. Gentleman undertake to discuss the question of early or immediate exemption with the Home Secretary, who is well apprised of the facts?
§ Mr. DiamondOf course, I shall be only too delighted to discuss the matter with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.
§ Mr. John HallWhen is the review of the surcharge likely to take place?
§ Mr. DiamondIn the spring.
§ 18. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates the balance of payments will benefit from the import charge on chemical raw materials used in the man-made fibre industry.
§ Mr. DiamondNo estimate can be made of effect of the temporary charge on the level of imports of particular items.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the surcharge on these raw materials is doing any good? Is he absolutely sure that it is not having the effect only of increasing the import bill for raw cotton and raw wool?
§ Mr. DiamondAs was fully explained during the debates on the Finance Bill, the charge has to apply over a very wide range in order to be effective, so that any item within plays its full part.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamDoes this mean that any improvement in the balance of payment will have to be by a decrease in the production of the firm concerned?
§ Mr. DiamondNo. The firm might absorb any additional item into its costs.
§ 27. Mr. Norwoodasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from the 15 per cent. import surcharge the paper on which books are printed in this country.
§ Mr. DiamondPrinting paper in general will be among the items considered when the scope of the charge comes under review. It would, however, be impracticable to base an exemption on the use to which the paper is put.
§ Mr. NorwoodIs my hon. Friend aware that this surcharge creates a very substantial anomaly? Because of the arrangement under the U.N.E.S.C.O. agreement whereby books can be imported into this country, British printers are handicapped in printing comparable books, and this surcharge will divert books abroad.
§ Mr. DiamondMy information is that most of the paper used by United Kingdom publishers is manufactured in this country. Therefore, my hon. Friend's anxiety does not arise.
§ Mr. PriorWould the hon. Gentleman point out to his hon. Friend that we on this side moved an Amendment on this matter which was thrown out by the Chief Secretary himself?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not the Minister's duty to do that.
§ Mr. RidleyDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is time to abolish this miserable surcharge across the whole field? Will he do away with it straight away?
§ Mr. DiamondI said earlier today—I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was in the House—that the matter would be subject to review, we hope, in the spring.