Sir J. D, REESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a 33⅓ per cent, import duty upon are-lamp carbons will restrict the manufacture of this article to one firm in the United Kingdom, with the result that the cinema industry, among others, will he faced with a monopoly and subjected to a precarious supply of an article vital to its continuance and prosperity; and whether he will therefore eliminate are-lamp carbons from the list of articles included in the Government Resolution?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am unable to accept the propositions laid down by my hon. Friend, and I think he has overlooked the need of these articles for searchlight purposes in connection with national defence, but there will be ample opportunity for discussing these questions when the Financial Resolutions are moved. In the meantime the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.