asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state particulars of any articles or classes of goods for which he has decided to require permits under Article 4, subsection (2) of the Emergency Powers (Manufacture of Textiles and Textile Articles) Order, 1942; and if he will state in respect of each such article or class of goods the amount of any fee payable and any other general conditions attaching to such permit; the authority under which such fee is imposed, and the reason for its imposition.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Permits for Manufacturers and Traders.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state particulars of any articles or classes of goods under which he has decided to require a manufacturer's licence under Article 3, paragraph 5, subsection (3) of the Emergency Powers (Manufacture of Textiles and Textile Articles) Order, 1942; and if he will state in respect of each such article or class of goods particulars of any fee payable or other general conditions attached to the granting of such licence, the authority under which such fee is imposed, and the reason for its imposition.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 10 together. The articles and classes of goods for the manufacture of which a manufacturer's licence or permit will be required under Articles 3 and 4 of the Emergency Powers (Manufacture of Textiles and Textile Articles) Order, 1942, are wool tops, yarns made wholly or mainly of cotton, linen, wool, silk or artificial silk, fabrics woven or knitted from such yarns and garments or articles of any kind manufactured from such yarns or fabrics. The amount of the fee payable on application for a manufacturer's licence is £10. This fee is charged irrespective of the number of businesses carried on by one firm provided all such businesses are carried on in the one name. The general condition attached to the grant of each manufacturer's licence is that the holder thereof will comply with any directions given to him from time to time by the Minister for Supplies. The fee of £10 is imposed under Section 8 (i) of the Emergency Powers Act, 1939.
I have taken no decision as regards the particular articles or classes of goods for which permits, as distinct from licences, will be required. It is contemplated that permits will be issued in those cases where, on account of the short supply of textile raw materials, it is not anticipated that production can be maintained for more than a short period. In such cases, the fee to be charged on application for a permit has been fixed at 10/-.
These fees are being charged to cover the expenses involved in the administration of the Emergency Powers (Manufacture of Textiles and Textile Articles) Order, 1942.
In what way does the Minister propose to justify the imposition of as big a fee as £10?
I do not think that it calls for any justification. The statute gives power to impose fees for the purpose of recovering the cost of administration. It is considered that a fee of £10, in the case of manufacturers engaged in these businesses, is not unreasonable, having regard to the amount of administration that will be involved.
Can the Minister justify the imposition of this £10 charge on a small firm making up small garments when the licence fee for each of the nine banks to be registered under the Central Bank Act is only £1?
I do not think that there is any comparison between the amount of administration involved in the two cases. So far as I know, no administration will be involved in the case of the banks under the Central Bank Act.