§ Sir Smedley Crookeasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the alarm of small manufacturing firms occasioned by the proposals of his Department under the concentration of industries; and whether he will consider the advisability of setting up appeal tribunals, consisting of those not connected with the industry, to consider the claims of small firms so as to avoid their interests being subjected to the ruling of combines and large business firms who would be interested persons and unlikely to give an impartial judgment?
§ Mr. DaltonWhile small firms—those employing 20 people or less—are encouraged to join in schemes under the concentration of industry policy they are not compelled to do so, unless the scarcity of the raw material available makes a strict control of the whole industry necessary. I do not consider that the appointment of appeal tribunals is desirable or necessary. The approval and selection of nucleus and closing firms under the concentration of industry policy is a matter for which the Government must 1175W be responsible, but before taking such decisions it is the practice of the Board of Trade to consult the representative trade organisations.