asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to say what is the amount of duty His Majesty's Board of Customs have decided to impose on imported gas mantles; and will he state whether delivery of gas mantles was being allowed on a deposit of 25 per cent. of the value of the complete mantles?

The amount of duty payable in respect of imported gas mantles will vary according to the value of the dutiable ingredients. But as regards 90 per cent. of the importations, it is estimated that the duty involved will not exceed 5 per cent. of the value of the complete article. With regard to the last part of the question, I would point out that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the hon. Member on the 15th instant that delivery has hitherto been allowed on deposit of a sum equivalent to the duty on a value of 25 per cent. of the value of the complete mantle, not on a deposit of 25 per cent. of the value of the mantle.

Is the hon. Baronet aware that two answers were given, one stating that there was a duty of 25 per cent. on the value of the complete mantle, and the other stating that there was a duty of 25 per cent. on the dutiable part of the mantle? Which is right?

I think there is some misunderstanding.

If I send the hon. Member copies of the two answers I have received, and he sees that there is a contradiction, will he have it put right?

Provided the hon. Member does not keep on repeating the same question. This has been answered for the third time.

Can the hon. Member tell me whether this duty is imposed under Part I or Part II of the Act?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Chan cellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a consignment of toy view-scopes costing 2½d. each has been detained by His Majesty's officers of Customs on the ground that the glass magnifier was a scientifically-worked lens and therefore liable to a duty of 33⅓ per cent. under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and whether his officers have a standard to work by and instructions to exempt articles of trifling value?

I have no information in regard to the particular consignment in question, but I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for the Western Isles on the 8th ultimo as to the position of view-scopes under the Safeguarding of Industries Act. As regards the last part of the question, Key Industry Duty is now waived on toys and fancy goods where the value of the dutiable parts is shown not to exceed 10 per cent. of the total value of the whole article.