§ 86. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is possible for him, in conjunction with the Board of Customs, to take some action to exempt small consignments from duties under the Safeguarding of Industries Act when the amount of duty does not reach, say 10s., seeing that in a recent case, in order to obtain the sum of 11d., being the amount of duty payable on certain articles of glassware, the Post Office charged 15s. for opening the parcels, and in consignments which do not arrive by post the charge for opening one packing: case is 3s. 6d., the cost for rent, breaking-in, and breaking-out often amounts to as much as 20s. in addition to other charges?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONIt would not be possible to take any action of the kind suggested by the hon. and gallant Member without legislation, which at present is not contemplated.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the matter being considered in view of the actual inconvenience which has arisen?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONNo legislation is contemplated at the present moment.