§ MR. CAREW (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that large importations of tea rejected by the Hamburg and New York Customs have recently been passed by the English Customs, and sold in London, although containing up to 20 per cent. of clay and sand, and unfit for human consumption; and whether, in view of the fact that the price of common teas has advanced 50 per cent., of which the poor are the largest consumers, the Government will insist on a more rigid inspection of all future importations to prevent a repetition of the fraud.
§ *MR. HANBURY. The Board of Customs have no means of testing the accuracy of the statement in the first paragraph. As was stated yesterday by my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to a similar question, a full inquiry is being made, and if it should appear advisable to alter the existing regulations or to increase the number of tea inspectors, the necessary steps will be taken at once. Meantime, a circular has been issued to the tea inspectors directing them to administer the existing regulations with special care.