§ Mr. Petherickasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have received any recommendation from the Import Duties Advisory Committee on the application for increased duties on butter and cheese?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe Import Duties Advisory Committee have informed the Government that they have considered the application submitted to them by representative organisations of milk producers for increased duties on butter and cheese. I understand that the applicants had in mind that the proceeds of the duties should be applied as a subsidy for the benefit of the milk industry. The committee, having regard to the fact that it is not within their competence to advise as to the appropriation of revenue derived from import duties and to the fact that no material assistance could be given to the milk industry by means of increased duties, even of a very high order, and even if duties equal to the increase in the rates on foreign produce were imposed on Empire produce, have informed the Government that they could not make any recommendation on the application.