HC Deb 12 March 1975 vol 888 cc655-6

Queen's Recommendation having been signified—

Resolved,

That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make further provision in connection with the powers and duties of the Secretary of State under the Export Guarantees Acts 1968 and 1970, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of the expenses of the Secretary of State under arrangements for making payments to persons who have entered into export

5 (1) For the purpose of encouraging trade with other countries, the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury make arrangements for making payments to persons carrying on business in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands who have entered into export contracts, being payments related to such increases in the cost of labour, materials or other matters as may be specified by or under the arrangements.
(2) Arrangements under this section may contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit, including provisions requiring payments to be made to the Secretary of State as consideration for his entering into the arrangements.
10 (3) Any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this section shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament, and any sums received by him by virtue of this section shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
15 (4) Subject to subsection (5) below, no arrangements shall be made under this section after the expiration of the period of two years beginning with the date of the passing of this Act.
20 (5) The Secretary of State may by order extend the period during which arrangements may be made under this section by not more than one year at a time; and any order under this subsection shall be contained in a statutory instrument, and no such order shall be made unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of the House of Commons.—[Mr. Deakins.]

Brought up and read the First time.

10.22 p.m.

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. Eric Deakins)

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Mr. Speaker

With this, it is suggested that we discuss the following amendments to the proposed clause :

(a), in line 5, after "materials ", insert ' design and consultancy services, research, development '.

(b), in line 6, at end insert ' but excluding increases in interest costs '.

(c), in line 11, after "Parliament ", insert ' and shall be separately treated and identified in the accounts of the Export Credit Guarantees Department '.

(d), in line 20, at end insert ' but the Secretary of State shall not make more than five such orders under this subsection'.

contracts, being payments related to increases in the cost of labour, materials or other matters.—[Mr. Deakins.]