§ 13. Sir GEORGE YOUNGERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise have disallowed claims for drawback of duty paid upon beer shipped in steamships sunk by enemy submarines; and, if so, whether he will give instructions that such duties shall be refunded?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEDrawback on beer is legally payable only in respect of beer shipped for exportation abroad. It is not payable on beer shipped coastwise (i.e., in transit between one port and another in the United Kingdom), and the Board of Customs and Excise have in consequence disallowed claims for drawback in respect of beer on coastwise ships sunk by the enemy. The suggestion in the last part of the question has been very carefully considered, but I am afraid that I cannot adopt it.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recollect the peculiar circumstances under which this has happened? I quite understand the other point which he makes, but really there ought to be some return and some rebate in this case.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI think it would be a very serious precedent to establish, and I should have thought that it was a case that ought to be covered by insurance against war risks.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERBut why should the insurance companies suffer at all? It is surely a public question of great importance, and ought to be considered.