Dr. LITTLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the effect of the Safeguarding of Industries Act on X-ray workers in this country; that, in some cases, the actual tax which the consumer has to pay, owing to various accessory charges, may be as high as 60 per cent.; that apparatus which is not being manufactured in this country has this duty charged upon it; and whether, seeing that this makes it difficult for medical men practising X-ray treatment to have the best modern apparatus, he will consider the advisability of removing from the Schedule at any rate those types of apparatus which are not manufactured in this country by British firms?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI am unable to conceive how the actual tax paid under the Safeguarding of industries Act can possibly be at the rate suggested by the hon. Member. I am aware that certain special types of X-ray apparatus are not at present produced in this country, but, having regard to the purpose of the Act in question, I am not prepared to introduce the legislation necessary to give effect to the hon. Member's suggestion.