§ 16. Major M. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are over 2,000 commodities liable to duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act which are not manufactured in the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the heavy burden this entails upon industries that depend on these commodities as their raw material, he will take steps to have them removed from the dutiable list?
§ Mr. BALDWINIt has been repeatedly pointed out, both during the passage of the Safeguarding of Industries Act through this House and in reply to questions since, that the object of Part I of the Act was to encourage the development of the industries to which it relates, and the extension of their range of production to varieties of goods not previously produced in this country. I am satisfied that that extension is taking place, particularly in respect of the products of the chemical industry comprised within that heading of the Schedule to the Act which the hon. Member appears to have especially in mind; and accordingly I see no reason to take the course proposed.
§ Major WOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that any industry is being safeguarded by the exclusion of these commodities; and is he not prepared to suspend the Act in regard to these commodities until the manufacture is started in this country? [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter for debate.
59. Sir WILLIAM BARTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state what other commodities of an analogous character will be deleted from the list of dutiable articles under the Safeguarding of Industries Act following the decision of the Referee in respect of cream of tartar, tartaric and citric acids, which were held to have been improperly inserted in the list?
§ Mr. BALDWINA list will be issued in the course of this week.