§ MR. SLAGGasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take any steps with the view of ascertaining the amount necessary to provide a reasonable drawback of duty upon gold and silver plate, new and unused, in the hands of manufacturers and dealers; and, whether such information could not best be obtained by means of the assistance of the Goldsmiths' Company of London and the other Assay Offices throughout the Country?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)In reply to my hon. Friend I have to say that if it should be decided to make any payment in the nature of drawback of duty on plate in the hands of manufacturers and dealers, the fullest consideration will be 1086 given to the question of the scale and principle on which such drawback should be calculated. We should, no doubt, avail ourselves of the assistance of the Assay officers in considering on what articles such drawback should be allowed; but I cannot say that their advice as to the amount to be considered reasonable would necessarily be taken.