HC Deb 07 November 1921 vol 148 cc2-3
4. Mr. LAMBERT

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that one firm in this country uses from 25,000 to 30,000 gallons of milk per week in the preparation of infants' food and that pure milk sugar, an essential ingredient not produced in this country, is subjected to a 33⅓ import duty; and whether, seeing that such a duty will discourage milk production and increase the price of infants' food, he will at once cancel the duty?

5. Mr. MYERS

asked the President or the Board of Trade whether sugar-milk, British Pharmacopœia, has been entered as liable for duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; whether he is aware that this article is an essential basis of all infant foods; whether, if the article is imported for making milk-stout, it is exempt from duty; if so, will he state the reason for this discrimination; and whether the advisability of removing this article from the list altogether will be considered?

Mr. BALDWIN

Crude lactose, which is used in the manufacture of milk-stout, is not dutiable under any heading of the Schedule to Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; the pure quality, which is used for the preparation of certain special foods, is dutiable as a fine chemical. As I have repeatedly stated, I have no power to exclude on any ground from the operation of the Act any commodity properly included within the general headings of the Schedule, but the question whether lactose is properly so included can be referred to the referee under Section 1 (5), and this I understand is being done.

Mr. LAMBERT

Did not the right hon. Gentleman on the 12th May specifically state that food in its widest sense would be excluded from the Schedule? Therefore, why does he by administrative act include it?

Mr. BALDWIN

It is not correct to say that by administrative act I have included food. It is a point of argument whether refined lactose is a food. Crude lactose will probably be refined in this country if the decision of the referees is adverse to the claimants.

Mr. LAMBERT

Is it not a fact that pure lactose is used in the preparation of infants' food? Surely infants' food is a key industry.

Mr. BALDWIN

It is a matter for the referees.

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