§ Captain RAMSAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the recent order abolishing the full protective duties on potatoes, other than new, has caused grave concern to the industry, including the Potato Marketing Board, at the moment when the board's efforts were beginning to establish confidence in the industry's future; that practically no opportunity of stating their case against the said abolition was given either to the board or to the producers in general; and will he take steps forthwith to annul the said order or suspend its operation until such time as the case can receive a proper examination?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONThe decision to remove the duty temporarily was reached after full examination of the situation, in the course of which I understand the views of the Marketing Board and the Farmers' Unions were carefully considered. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. I may, however, remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Import Duties Advisory Committee in their report say that they fully anticipate that in a few months' time the exceptional conditions which led them to recommend the removal of the duty will have ceased to be operative; that they will keep the matter under review; and that if and when their anticipations are realised they will recommend that the duty be re-imposed.