§ 43. Mr. NIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he considers it either necessary or expedient that the Customs and Excise, acting on behalf of the War Trade Department, should seize goods exported from this country under a duly granted permit when sent abroad under a contract of sale or return, and when, in pursuance of such option, the purchasers elect to return the goods to the vendors; upon what grounds are the Customs entitled to seize and claim to forfeit such goods which in law have never ceased to be the property of the exporters when the same are so returned; and whether he will give directions for a discontinuance of the practice referred to?
Mr. ROBERTSIf the goods in question fall under the Prohibitions of Import, the Customs have no power to admit them to this country without a licence issued by the Board of Trade, whatever the circumstances of their previous exportation or their ownership. Such licence would ordinarily be granted by the Board on proof of circumstances such as those described in the question.
§ Mr. NIELDWill the hon. Gentleman ascertain whether or not the persons were returning these diamonds, which were obtained on sale or return, to the vendors, and whether they had a licence to import the goods into this country?
Mr. ROBERTSI cannot state anything beyond what I have said. If the circumstances are as described by the hon. Gentleman, I think a licence would be issued.