asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total amount and value of the catgut and other substances to which Emergency Imposition of Duties Order (No. 186 of 1939), refers, which were (a) imported into, and (b) produced in the country, during each of the years 1937 and 1938, and the three months ended 31st March, 1939; the amount of customs duty which it is expected will be collected on the import of these articles, during the year ended 31st March, 1940; the number of firms manufacturing these articles in the country; the number of persons employed in their manufacture and the total annual amount of salaries and wages paid; the number of additional persons expected to be put into employment, and the increase in the annual total of salaries and wages expected as a result of the Order; and if he will state to what persons or type of persons, if any, it is intended to grant licences for the import of these articles free of duty.
Written Answers. - Emergency Imposition of Duties Orders.
Prior to the date of the Emergency Imposition of Duties Order the Official Import List did not provide specific headings for the imports of these substances, which were included with other miscellaneous goods under general descriptions. Accordingly, statistics of the imports in the years 1937 and 1938 and the months January to March, 1939, are not available. During this period one firm was engaged in the production of catgut in this country, but particulars of production are not available.
It is not possible to state the amount of customs duty likely to be collected on the imports of these articles during the year ending 31st March, 1940, but it is considered that it will be, comparatively speaking, negligible.
At present there are two firms manufacturing catgut in this country. As there are only two firms the number of people employed or the salaries and wages paid to them cannot be given without disclosing confidential information relating to individual concerns. As regards the number of additional persons to be employed, at this stage it may be stated that one of the two firms in question is at present giving substantial employment and hopes to increase this as a result of the protection afforded by the Order in question. Licences for the duty-free importation of normal quantities of the articles covered by the Order will be granted to any person provided that supplies of the articles in question or suitable substitutes therefor, cannot be obtained from home sources.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total amount and value of the sterilised surgical ligatures other than of catgut to which Emergency Imposition of Duties Order (No. 187 of 1939) refers, which were (a) imported into and (b) produced in the country, during each of the years 1937 and 1938, and the three months ended 31st March, 1939; the amount of customs duty which it is expected will be collected on the import of these articles, during the year ended 31st March, 1940; the number of firms manufacturing these articles in the country; the number of persons employed in their manufacture, and the total annual amount of salaries and wages paid; the number of additional persons expected to be put into employment, and the increase in the annual total of salaries and wages expected as a result of the Order; and if he will state to what persons or type of persons, if any, it is intended to grant licences for the import of these articles free of duty.
Prior to the date of the Emergency Imposition of Duties Order the Official Import List did not provide specific headings for the imports of these substances, which were included with other miscellaneous goods under general descriptions. Accordingly, statistics of the imports in the years 1937 and 1938 and the months January to March, 1939, are not available. Since the beginning of 1937 there has been no production of these articles in this country.
It is not possible to state the amount of customs duty likely to be collected on the imports of these articles during the year ending 31st March, 1940, but it is considered that it will be, comparatively speaking, negligible.
A new company will begin manufacturing these articles in this country very shortly. The number of additional persons expected to be put into employment cannot be stated without disclosing confidential information supplied by the company in question. Licences for the duty free importation of normal quantities of the articles covered by the Order will be granted to any person, provided that supplies of the articles in question, or suitable substitutes therefor, cannot be obtained from home sources.