asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury from what industries now affected by duties requests have been received by the Tariff Advisory Committee for the cessation of any duty levied under any enactment prior to the Import Duties Act?

I am not aware that any requests have been received by the Advisory Committee for the cessation of any duty levied under any enactment prior to the Import Duties Act.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the industries that had the opportunity of personal application to the Tariff Advisory Committee before the application of the recent duties; whether any such industries were requested to attend; and whether any, and how many, submitted written applications for consideration?

I should not feel justified in asking the Advisory Committee for returns of applications such as my hon. Friend suggests. I would, however, remind him that the Committee considered it essential to review the position on the basis of the information already collected by the Board of Trade in recent years, supplemented by such inquiries of a general character as they were able to make in the time available. They are now ready to consider, without avoidable delay, any applications for adjustment of the duties imposed within the general framework set up in their first recommendations.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that the advisory committee will give every possible consideration to the interests concerned?

The advisory committee stated publicly that they are ready to consider any applications. I should not attempt to dictate to them how they should consider applications and how applications should be made. Anybody interested should approach the committee without delay.

Will priority of consideration be given to those industries which have recently been reduced from the 50 per cent. duty?

It will not be possible for me to give any such assurance, but the advisory committee, immediately on receiving representations from the woollen trade, asked that trade to submit particulars.