§ 12. Sir K. Josephasked the President of the Board of Trade when he will announce his decision on the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of man-made cellulosic fibres.
§ Mr. DellWe expect to have the result of the tariff review by the end of the year; my right hon. Friend will then be able to take a decision on the Commission's recommendations.
§ Sir K. JosephBut the President of the Board of Trade himself said in July that he hoped to have the result of the tariff review in two months. Are we now to understand that it is to take six months in all?
§ Mr. DellI am afraid that the tariff review is taking longer than was previously expected, because it was decided that it was desirable to seek further views both from certain other producers like Lansil and other selected consumers as to the effect of a tariff reduction.
§ Sir K. JosephHave the Government decided still not to act on the individual recommendations but to wait and act on the Report as a whole?
§ Mr. DellWe still wish to take a decision on the Report as a whole rather than a series of piecemeal decisions.
§ Mr. MappWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are firms in the spinning industry in Lancashire dependent on the one supplier for their raw material, which are engaged, and want to be further engaged, in the home and export trade in direct competition with that largely monopolistic supplier? Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that expansion might be held back because of the situation shown to him in the report?