§ Colonel P. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department received representations from the London Chamber of Commerce on the 30th March and on the 1st April relative to the import; of a consignment of a well known brand of pills; whether these consignments are now being held dutiable, not only in respect of the glass tubes in which they are packed, which are of trifling value, but also in respect 50W of a small amount of sugar-coating, and the importers are being asked to furnish particulars as to the other ingredients of the pills; whether manufacturers naturally refuse to disclose the formula on which such goods are manufactured; and whether he is prepared to modify the requirements of his Department in such a connection?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Inquiries are being made as to the liability to duty of the particular form of containers used. As regards the question of sugar duty, any article containing a dutiable ingredient is chargeable with duty under Section 7 (1) of the Finance Act, 1901. With reference to the request for particulars as to other ingredients, I am informed that this is in accordance with the practice of the Government Laboratory, which, in order to facilitate the analysis and expedite the decision as to liability to duty in any case submitted to it, invites the importer to furnish confidential information as to the ingredients, if he is able and willing to do so. I see no reason to suggest any modification of that practice, which is in the importer's own interest.