§ Mr. Shepherdasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to make an announcement about the independent Committee to review the question of the duty-free entry of machinery into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftAfter consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have decided to set up an independent Committee to review the long-term problem of the duty-free entry of machinery. The terms of reference of the Committee are
To consider and report whether it is in the national interest to provide for the duty-free admission into the United Kingdom of machinery, either by classes or in individual consignments; and, in this connection, to review the provisions of 5>ection 10 of the Finance Act, 1932, and their administration, and to recommend what, if any, changes should bo made.I am glad to say that Sir Henry Wilson Smith has agreed to be the Chairman of the Committee. The other members 27W comprise three industrialists with experience mainly as makers of machinery, three with experience mainly as users of machinery, a trade union representative and an independent. The full list of members is:
Chairman: Sir Henry Wilson Smith, K.C.B., K.B.E.
Other members:
- R. Bird, Esq.
- T. F. A. Board, Esq., C.B.E.
- M. A. Fiennes, Esq., M.I.Mech.E.
- C. H. Grist, Esq.
- E. Grove, Esq.
- S. J. Harley, Esq., B.Sc. M.I.Mech.E., M.I.P.E.
- A V. Symons, Esq.
- J. Tanner, Esq.
- The Joint Secretaries to the Committee are Mr. D. P. Brearley (Board of Trade) and Mr. D. M. J. Gwinnell (Ministry of Supply).