§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he sees any reason why a drawback should not be given on the export of chicory, on which duty may have been paid from the United Kingdom, with due provisions for the protection of the revenue, in the same way as a drawback is given on roasted coffee.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.I have not had ti[...] since the Question was put on the Paper to go into the matter personally, but the Board of Customs are of opinion that a drawback cannot be allowed on the export of chicory with safe[...]y to the revenue, in view of the practical difficulties which exist in the detection, by any chemical analysis, of the addition of other vegetable matter to chicory. The same reasons do not apply to coffee, in as-much as the chemical and microscopical features of coffee are very characteristic, and an admixture with other substances is comparatively easily detected. The grant of drawback, if possible at all, would probably necessitate an alteration in the present scale of duties.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINYes, I will.