§ Mr. Bartonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a firm in Alperton has recently experienced considerable delay and difficulty in obtaining the permission of the Import Licensing Department to import a small quantity of dried passiflora and guaicol to enable them to undertake valuable export orders for proprietary products; and whether, in view of the importance of assisting the export trade, he will investigate this case and see what steps can be taken to expedite the procedure of the department concerned.
§ Sir S. CrippsAn application for a licence to import guaiacol for the purposes of export trade has been received. The licence has now been issued. As regards the application to import passi-1862W flora, I am making inquiries. To save time the firm are being asked to make a further application. I much regret the delay in dealing with these two applications, which should not have occurred.