§ Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider permitting the untaxed importation of foreign supplies of electric torches and batteries in order to meet the needs of dealers in this country and to reduce the deaths resulting from the black-out?
§ Mr. StanleyMost hand torches imported into the United Kingdom are imported from Hong Kong and are not in most instances subject to import duty. I do not believe that the removal of the duty upon foreign supplies would lead to any substantial increase in total supplies.
§ Mr. Sandysasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many shops in all parts of the country are refusing to sell torch batteries unless the customer will buy a new torch as well, and that, as a result, the public is being compelled to buy large numbers of unwanted torches; and whether he will take steps to stop this form of exploitation and wastage?
§ Mr. StanleyI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 2nd November to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Camberwell North (Mr. Ammon).