8. Mr. J. H. SIMPSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the chemical commercially known as ammonium phosphate is used exclusively for the purpose of fireproofing timber by the Timber Fireproofing Company; whether, in view of this fact, ammonium phosphate. was removed from the list of chemicals protected by the Safeguarding of Industries Act; whether it has recently been ascertained that this 231 chemical, though commercially known and dealt in as ammonium phosphate, is, in fact, ammonium hi-phosphate, which is liable to duty under the Act; and whether, in view of the fact that, owing to the consequent enhancement in the cost of this material, the Timber Fireproofing Company may have to cease manufacture, he can see his way to removing ammonium bi-phosphate from the list of chemicals to which the Schedule of the Safeguarding of Industries Act applies?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI do not accept the suggestion that the material largely used for fire-proofing purposes is generally known in commerce as ammonium phosphate. The ordinary grades of ammonium phosphate were removed from the dutiable list in consequence of certain expressions of opinion by the Referee in cases under Section 1 (5) of the Act, and not for the reason suggested by the hon. Member. No complaint as to the inclusion of ammonium hi-phosphate was received within the period prescribed by the Act, and I have no power to remove from the list articles properly covered by the Schedule heading. I may add that since the passing of the Act a large British production has become available, and. the price is now substantially less than it was when there was no British manufacture.