§ Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the Board of Trade has rejected the application of the flint-glass trade for an inquiry under the safeguarding of industries schemes on the grounds that the industry does not employ more than 5,000 people and could not therefore be regarded as substantial, he will reconsider this ruling, seeing that its strict application will deprive of the benefits of safeguarding a number of small yet efficient trades in the Midlands?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am not prepared to waive the condition laid down in the White Paper, that an applicant industry must be of substantial importance on account either of the volume of employment engaged or the nature of the goods produced. For the reasons I have already given in the House, I do not think it is in the general interest that the Board of Trade should publish particulars of applications unless such applications are referred to a Committee.