§ Mr. Marquandasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the Government have reached a decision on the need of economic development committees for more detailed information about imports of machinery and other products.
§ Mr. M. StewartThe Government have been convinced that, in order to promote the manufacture of competitive British goods the Economic Development Committees need to know what is being imported in more detail than is at present given by Customs statistics. We accordingly intend to introduce legislation to provide, with suitable safeguards, that more of the information at present supplied by importers to H.M. Customs and Excise may be made available where the Government consider this to be in the national interest. If the legislation is approved, such information would thereafter be provided from import documents presented to Customs after today. The Government's intention has been generally welcomed by the National Economic Development Council.