15. Major BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it has been 520 decided to allow under the Dyestuffs Act only goods to be imported for which the applicant has a definite order; on what grounds this decision has been arrived at; and whether the decision involves the disclosure of the particulars of the private business connections of a merchant, and also, in respect of consumers, their trade secrets, namely, the products they use for the manufacture of their finished goods?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMENo such decision as that referred to in the first part of the question has been arrived at. The remaining parts of the question therefore do not arise.
Major BARNESIs it the fact that people applying for licences have been asked to state the persons to whom the goods which are to be imported are to go?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMENo, I do not think that is the case. I think persons may have been told it will facilitate the granting of licences if it is clear that they are ordered for people who require them, 521 but it was part of the understanding insisted on, very properly, by the House, that the licensing should be left very largely in the hands of this Committee, which was wholly representative, and I should be very sorry to interfere with it in the discharge of its duties.
16. Major BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade if an import licence for two hundredweights of salicylic acid (B.P.) required for the purpose of making medicated ointment has been refused; and if he will say in the manufacture of what dyestuffs, colours, or colouring matters salicylic acid (B.P.) is used?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI understand from the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee that the applicants in the case referred to are being informed that, if they can satisfy the Committee that the consignment is of B.P. quality and is to be used solely for medicinal purposes, and will undertake to produce proof, if required later, that it has been so used, the Committee will be prepared to reconsider their decision.
17. Major BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade if the list of products prohibited from importation except under licence has yet been issued; and, if not, what is the reason?
§ 1. Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the President of the Board of Trade why the list of prohibited goods under the Dye-stuffs Act is issued secretly to the Customs authorities but withheld from the traders, who are greatly incommoded thereby?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEA provisional list of commodities covered by the Dye-stuffs (Import Regulation) Act was furnished to the Customs for their guidance pending the preparation of a full and detailed list in consultation with the Licensing Committee. This list has now been completed and is in the hands of the printers, and will be generally available shortly. I do not think that any appreciable amount of inconvenience has been caused to importers by the slight delay which has occurred, as all inquiries as to whether any particular commodity is or is not included have been answered immediately.
Major BARNESMay we take it that when this list is published it will be a complete list and that importers may know the commodities that are not mentioned on it may be imported without any further inquiry?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEIt is the most complete list it is possible to prepare, and the delay has been due to the desire of the Licensing Committee to make it as complete as possible.
§ Major MACKENZIE WOODMay importers import any substance that is not included in that list?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI should like to safeguard myself on one point. It is possible that there are certain chemicals which come in under one name and it is very easy to call them by an entirely new name and sell them as the same chemicals. It would be obviously impossible to allow the Act to be evaded by a mere subterfuge of that kind.
§ Major M. WOODIf it is a different substance altogether and there is no substance included in the list even under a different name?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe list, I hope, will be published as soon as it comes from the printers. The final judge is, I think, the Law Courts.
Major BARNESMay we take it that the list when published will be identical with the list which has been furnished to the Customs and Excise, so that there is not likely to be any trouble, and the state of uncertainty at present existing will be removed?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEMost certainly the list which is going to be published is going to be the list which is issued to the Customs. I again undertake that the list when complete will be issued to everyone concerned, and there will be only one list in operation.