HC Deb 10 July 1922 vol 156 c810
19. Dr. MURRAY

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the Referee's decision on points of principle in the cream of tartar and other cases which have come before him, he will consider removing sodium pyrophosphate from the lists defining the key industries schedule?

Mr. BALDWIN

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on the 15th May.

Dr. MURRAY

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why sodium pyrophosphate should be regarded as a fine chemical when potassium bitartrate, otherwise cream of tartar, is not?

Mr. BALDWIN

No complaint has been made, during the period which was open for complaints, with regard to it.

Dr. MURRAY

is the right hon. Gentleman going to wait till the people who deal in these 6,000 chemicals make complaints one by one?

Mr. KILEY

Did not the President of the Board of Trade give an undertaking when the Bill was being considered that any case that went to the Referee would be decided in principle, and that, once a decision had been arrived at, similar substances would be dealt with accordingly?

Mr. HANNON

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of attaching a chemical laboratory to this House, for the use of hon. Members above the Gangway?

Mr. SPEAKER

These questions should be put down on the Paper.

Major MACKENZIE WOOD

Are you aware, Sir, that the last question was put with the deliberate intention of preventing my hon. Friend's question from being answered?

Mr. SPEAKER

I think it was meant merely as a kindly bit of humour.

Mr. KILEY

We wanted an answer.