Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons am ar 7 Gorffennaf 1925.
Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON:
4.asked the President of the Board of Trade whether all those industries which would be affected, adversely or otherwise, by either a duty on the imports of foreign iron and steel or a subsidy on the home products, will be allowed to give evidence before the Civil Research Committee when they commence their inquiries into this matter?
Mr Philip Lloyd-Greame
, Hendon
As I stated yesterday, the Government would not propose a safeguarding duty to Parliament except after an inquiry on the lines laid down in the white paper. It is not intended that the Civil Research Committee should embark on such an inquiry, or that it would be within their competence to recommend the imposition of a duty.
Mr Philip Lloyd-Greame
, Hendon
I have explained in my answer that the Civil Research Committee will not be concerned with recommendations. Like any other Cabinet committee, it will have to take such steps as it thinks right to arrive at a conclusion.
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
How can they arrive at satisfactory conclusions without taking evidence and going to the natural sources of such information?
Mr Philip Lloyd-Greame
, Hendon
I did not say that they would take no evidence, but I can give no undertaking as to what evidence they will be prepared to take. They must take whatever they think to be the best course to arrive at a decision.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
Cabinet committees are established by the prime minister to enable the cabinet to deal more efficiently with the large volume of government business.
All cabinet committees are chaired by the prime minister or a senior cabinet minister and will have a number of cabinet ministers as members. Some are permanent committees while others are set up to deal with particular issues as they arise.
Cabinet committees carry out the bulk of cabinet work and the decisions they take have the authority of full cabinet. If a committee cannot agree on an issue it will be sent to the full cabinet for a final decision.
Some cabinet committees have sub-committees that do not usually taking final decisions on policy, but can enable important discussion of those issues which range across government departments.
