§ 4. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade what articles or materials entering this country are now taxed under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and when it is proposed to drop these taxes or to repeal the Act?
Mr. WEBBThe classes of commodities dutiable under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act are set out in the Schedule to the Act, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member. The duties are operative until the 19th August, 1926. The commodities of German manufactures dutiable under Part II of the Act, by virtue of Orders of which I am also sending him copies, are fabric gloves and glove fabric, domestic and illuminating glassware, domestic hollow-ware of aluminium and 1105 of enamelled iron or steel, and incandescent gas mantles; these duties and the provisions under which they are levied will cease to be operative on the 19th August of the present year.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, where I suggest the repeal of the Act?
§ Mr. HANNONHas not the operation of these duties been of great advantage to manufacturers in key industries?
Mr. WEBBThe last part of the question raises an extremely controversial point on which it would not become me to give a definite opinion in a brief answer. With regard to the end of the question, the hon. and gallant Gentleman asks when it is proposed to drop these taxes or to repeal the Act. I have answered that the duties under Part I are operative until 19th August, 1926. There is no intention at present to introduce new legislation.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWould it be consistent with the right hon. Gentleman's policy up to now to make a clean sweep of the duties?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot argue that now.