§ 107. Mr. F. GRAYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can inform the House of the amount received by the Revenue under the German Reparations (Recovery) Act, 1921, to date, and the proportion of this represented by penal and other duty paid by the British importer or his customers without any recovery from Germany?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Sir W. Joynson-Hicks)The total amount collected by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under the provisions of the German Reparation (Recovery) Act up to the 30th June last inclusive was £13,264,282. As regards the second part of the question, no information is available, but my right hon. Friend is not aware of any reason why the payments made by the British importer should not be recovered by deduction from the price paid to the German supplier in accordance with the pro- 467 cedure contemplated by the Act, and I have no ground for supposing that this procedure is not being generally followed.
§ Mr. GRAYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that where the invoice price is more than 74 per cent. of the cost the British importer is called upon to pay 35 per cent., because he does not recover from Germany?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs I say, I think he can recover, but if the hon. Member will send me details of any case he has in mind, I will look into them.