§ 79. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can explain why the collector of Customs at Globe Wharf has held up a consignment of egg-timers on the grounds that they are dutiable as scientific instruments; and if he is prepared to issue a definite list of articles that are liable to duties and tariffs, and thus remove the uncertainty which prevails as to the powers of the Custom officers to detain goods at the port of arrival?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hilton Young)The consignment of egg-timers in question has been detained by the Cus- 1768 toms Department on the ground that the glass portion of the article is liable to Key Industry Duty as lamp-blown ware, and not on the ground that the article is a scientific instrument, as stated in the question. As regards the latter portion of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Schedule to the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and to the lists of articles liable to Key Industry Duty issued by the Board of Trade under Sub-section (5) of Section 1 of the Act.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask what purpose egg-timers are supposed to serve in war?