§ Mr. C. WHITEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether special instructions have been given to the officers of Customs to collect a duty of 33⅓ per cent. under the key industry section of the 1874W Safeguarding of Industry Act on toy magic-lanterns and kaleidoscopes, as well as on magic-lantern slides which illustrate nursery stories; if so, what is the amount of duty so collected on toys during the period 1st October to 31st March; on what grounds this duty is levied, seeing that on other supposed scientific toys, such as gyroscopes, no duty is payable; and if he is prepared to consider the advisability of introducing an amending Bill so as to confine the operations of the Safeguarding of Industries Act to commodities essential for the safety of the Empire in the event of another great war?
Mr. YOUNGThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. Duty is chargeable in respect of kaleidoscopes or magic-lantern slides so far as these classes of goods are of the nature of articles included in the Schedule to the Safeguarding of Industries Act. Magic-lanterns of all kinds fall within the heading "optical instruments," and are included as "optical lanterns" in the list issued under that heading by the Board of Trade. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available. As regards the last part of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the Debates during the passage of the Act through the House.