2. Mr. J. HOPE SIMPSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Messrs. Laing and Company, of Wellclose Square, applied to the Dyestuffs Advisory Committee, on 17th January last, for a licence to import from Germany 2 cwt. of a- dye known as Blue De Lyon O; that permission was granted on 27th February to import 20 lbs. only; and that, on further representations from the firm, a licence was granted for an additional 36 lbs. of that dye on 7th March; whether there is any reason why the firm should be refused permission to import the balance of 1 cwt. which they still require; and whether he will take steps to prevent such unreasonable delay and consequent interference with trade in the future?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe original application was not made by the firm named, but by an importer of German dyestuffs. It subsequently appeared that the only consumer concerned were Messrs. Laing, who informed the Committee direct- that their present requirements were 56 lbs. They were allowed 20 lbs. whilst inquiries were being made as to possible British equivalents, and later the quantity was increased to the full amount required by them.
Mr. SIMPSONWere inquiries made from the firm as to the amount of their trade and why they required so much?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEWhat happened was this: The firm of importers said that 2 cwt. was required by the manufacturing firm, but the manufacturing firm said that they did not require 2 cwt. but 56 1bs.
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEIn order to carry out the Act as Parliament intended.
§ Mr. HANNONAre these dyestuffs not available for purchase in this country?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThere are now some experiments being conducted and we shall probably know the result in a very short time.
Mr. SIMPSONWas there any British dye that was at all like De-Lyon O and would have stood the treatment with ammonia equally well?
3. The hon. Member asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that benzoic acid, B.P., a chemical not manufactured in this country. is protected by the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act. and that that chemical is required to manufacture-sodium benzoate, a substance dutiable under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and whether, in view of the difficulty of import. which is caused by the Dyestuffs (Import. Regulation) Act in the case of benzoic acid and the consequent handicap on the manufacture of sodium benzoate, he can see his way to remove the former from the operation of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act and so to encourage the manufacture of sodium benzoate, which is regarded as a key industry?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEBenzoic acid is an organic intermediate, and as such is within the scope of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act. I have no power to exempt any particular product from the operation of that Act, but licences are granted for the importation of such quantities of benzoic acid as are shown to be required for purposes other than dye-manufacture.
Mr. SIMPSONWas it a fact that it took so long to get the licence that the importer was forced to purchase sodium benzoate from Germany rather than wait?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEObviously, I cannot tell about a particular case without. notice, but I know that the great majority of cases are dealt with in a few days.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAre we to understand that where it is found that a commodity has been included by mistake and is never manufactured in this country, it is impossible to get the Act amended?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe hon. and gallant Member knows, I think, that the Dyestuffs Regulation Act prohibits the import of any dye without licence. Where the article cannot be procured in this country the licence is always given.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBut there is a long delay?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMENo.
7. Mr. F. GRAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that last year Germany imported from this country 6.50 per cent. and Switzerland 12.21 per cent. of the total cotton greys exported from this country as compared with 1.53 per cent. and 3.23 per cent., respectively, of the total exported in 1013, and that the percentage of total goods exported as prints has fallen from 17.39 per cent. in 1913 to 12.98 per cent. in 1922; and whether, in view of these facts, he will take steps to secure the early repeal of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, 1920?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ 15. Major ATTLEEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the manner in which the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee exercises its functions; whether he is aware that the Committee withholds its consent to the importation of foreign dyestuffs by demanding samples, and asking importers for the reasons why their clients cannot meet their requirements from certain British firms; and if he will state whether the Committee in making such demands are acting under the instructions of his Department?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am unable to accept the suggestion made in the first part of the question, and, on the contrary, I am satisfied that the Committee commands the confidence of consumers generally. As regards the remainder of 226 the question, the Committee have thought it desirable to call for certain information to enable them to give proper consideration to applications for licences.
§ Major ATTLEEHow is an importer to supply a sample of a dye when he is not allowed to import it and has not it in his possession?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEAs this Committee is run by practical business men and contains a majority of colour users, I am perfectly satisfied that they conduct their business in a thoroughly practical way.
§ Major ATTLEEWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to the first part of my question, in which I refer to the thoroughly unsatisfactory way in which this Committee exercises its functions?
25. Mr. GRAYfurther asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the sole representative in Spain of the British Dyestuffs Corporation, Limited, is offering for sale reparation dyestuffs; if so, can he state whether such reparation dyes are sold by the corporation to their Spanish agents at the same price as to British firms; whether they are sold on behalf of the corporation's reparation agency or whether they are sold on behalf of their business as makers of dyestuffs; whether he is prepared to order an inspection of the corporation's books to ascertain the facts; and, in the event of it being found that the corporation, who, under their agreement with the Government, are prohibited from selling these reparation dyes for their own account, are disregarding this condition of the agency, is he prepared to place the agency in other hands?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am informed by the British Dyestuffs Corporation that no reparation dyestuffs whatever have been supplied by them to their representative in Spain, whether for sale on their own account or on Government account, and that no reparation dyestuffs have been sold by them in any other way in that. country.