asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, with reference to the Customs Duties (Motor Car Bodies) (Provisional Variation) Order, 1932, he will state (1) the number of the Saorstát firms engaged in the manufacture of the protected articles, the amount of capital invested therein, the number of persons employed therein and the value of their annual production; (2) the relative costs of production here and in Great Britain; (3) the cost of labour and rates of wages in this industry in the Saorstát as compared with such costs and rates in Great Britain; (4) the increase, expected to result from the Order, in the number of firms engaging in the industry, in the invested capital, in the employment given, and in annual output; (5) to what extent consumers of the articles protected by the Order can have their requirements met by home manufacturers; (6) what benefit is expected to accure to the Revenue of the Saorstát from the new duties and (7) if any application for aid, other than the tariff, has been made to him by any of the firms now engaged in the industry, or by any person or firm proposing to engage in the industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Car Bodies Tariff.
The Deputy will find statistics covering most of the points raised in this question in Report No. 8 of the Tariff Commission dealing with the application for (1) an increase in the tariff on the bodies of motor vehicles, and (2) the imposition of a tariff on (a) the bodies of certain other mechanically propelled or hauled vehicles, and (b) vehicles intended for animal traction. I am not at the moment in a position to give a final estimate of the benefit likely to accure to the revenue from the imposition of the duty. No application for assistance, other than the tariff, has been received by my Department from any firm or person engaged or proposing to engage in this industry.