§ 58. Mr. ALFRED SHORTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that British carriage manufacturers are dissatisfied with the Customs arrangements whereby they have to pay import duty on chassis made at Continental motor factories for export out of Europe which are first sent to this country for the purpose of being fitted with British carriage bodies; that the British manufacturers have approached 252 the Customs without success, offering to give a bond for the requisite amount, so that large sums of their money might not be locked up in this manner; and whether, in view of the urgent need for greater production and export, he will arrange that in future a bond shall be accepted from British carriage manufacturers with respect to the import duty on such Continental chassis as are intended for exportation after being fitted with bodies in this country?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware that there is any general dissatisfaction with the Customs arrangements referred to in the first part of the question. A firm has recently asked to be permitted to import chassis, without payment of duty, for subsequent export after being fitted with bodies in this country, and the Board of Customs and Excise are in communication with them on the subject. As soon as a decision has been reached, I will communicate it to the hon Member.