§ Sir W. PEARCEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will grant the free use of pure methyl alcohol, un-denatured, for industrial purposes for which it is shown to be essential, to the satisfaction of the Board of Customs and Excise, and under similar conditions for which permission is at present granted for the use of industrial spirit; and (2) if he is aware of the importance of pure methyl alcohol, undenatured, in chemical industry and of the present difficulties which hinder the development of manufactures requiring its use; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Board of Customs and Excise are aware of the importance of pure methyl alcohol undenatured in chemical industry, and have already decided to allow its use for certain purposes, e.g., in the manufacture of fine chemicals subject to certain conditions, but they would reserve to themselves the right to require the spirit to be denatured when the circumstances seemed to them to justify that course. The conditions to be imposed would be on the lines of those governing the use of industrial methylated spirits.