Mr. De la Bère:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply what arrangements have been made in regard to the distribution of tools which are being imported from America under the Lease and Lend arrangements; and, in particular, whether representative trade organisations have been consulted in regard to the selection of firms entitled to handle such supplies?

Machine tools, tooling equipment and accessories for machine tools and small tools, gauges, measuring instruments, screwing tackle and cutting tools used in conjunction with machine tools referred to in the Control of Machine Tools (No. 8) Order, 1941, are distributed by registered importers, who have been in the Majority of cases for many years the accredited agents of the American manufacturer, either directly to users or through dealers who have been or will be appointed as registered merchants. Those firms who have been registered as importers were those who held agency agreements from the American manufacturers for the tools in ques- tion, so that the normal channel of distribution has not been altered. The list of registered merchants was drawn up in consultation with the Advisory Panel of Registered Importers. As regards hand tools, the same procedure will be followed, the advisory body being the Hand Tool Importers Advisory Panel.

Mr. De la Bère:

Will my hon. Friend take the earliest possible opportunity to consult the recognised organisations of irnmongers and tool makers, owing to the disquiet which has been caused among them at the allocations that have taken place up to date?

The panel consists of representatives of the recognised organisations.

Mr. De la Bère:

Is my hon. Friend not aware that some of the older organisations seem to have been omitted? Perhaps he will look into that matter?