§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the advice or opinion of the Board of Trade Advisory Committee or of any bodies representing the employers or workmen engaged in the manufacturing trades likely to be affected by the reduction of the 26 per cent. duty upon German manufactured goods was sought by him before the reduction was made?
Mr. GRAHAMThe Board of Trade Advisory Committee, constituted under Section 5 (2) of the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, is set up for the sole purpose of advising the Board of Trade as to the making of Orders under Section 5 (1), and is not concerned with the fixing of the rate of levy by the Treasury. The Board of Trade were throughout in touch with the negotiations. Numerous representations were received from manufacturers protesting against the position in which duty was collected from them and not refunded by Germany.