asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that inconvenience and loss have been suffered by Scottish farmers owing to the delay on the part of the Import Duties Advisory Committee in issuing their decision in regard to imported oats and oat products; and if he will consider increasing the size of the committee to avoid the recurrence of such delays?

The degree of rapidity with which decisions can be reached in any particular case depends mainly on the nature of the application and the circumstances of the industry to which it relates, and I have no reason to think that an enlargement of the membership of the committee would result in greater expedition.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is very difficult indeed for farmers to know what crops to plant when they are kept waiting for many months to know whether they will be getting the benefit of a tariff or not?

Although the enlargement of the committee might not expedite the work, would the Chancellor of the Exchequer ask the committee whether there are any suggestions they could make which would enable applications to be dealt with more quickly?

I can only ask them to consider the suggestion in the question. The suggestion was that by enlarging the committee decisions might be more expeditiously reached. It would be difficult to concur in such a suggestion.

May I ask why I was not given the same reply a month ago, when I asked the same question, because I proposed that the committee should be enlarged a month ago, and I was referred to what had been said in December?

Yes, Sir. Truth is eternal.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what has been the reason for the lamentable delay in this case?