§ 30. Mr. DARBISHIREasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign 19 Affairs if, in view of the fact that goods consigned from Germany to the United Kingdom arc taxed 26 per cent.ad valorem on importation into this country, such tax being recoverable from the German Government, and that similar goods consigned from Germany to either France or Belgium are not taxed in a like manner, although both countries have the power under the Peace Treaty to levy such a duty, he is prepared to make representations to the Franco-Belgian authorities to waive the 10 per cent. tax they are at present. levying on all goods passing through their Customs barriers in the territories they are occupying?
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYBefore the occupation of the Ruhr, exports from Germany to this country were subject to the German export duty as well as the Reparation levy here. The fact that export duty is now collected by the Franco-Belgian authorities, instead of by the Germans, does not appear to be a reason for exempting the goods from the occupied territory either from the levy or export duty.
§ Mr. DARBISHIREIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the French and Belgians do not tax themselves to this extent; and will he consider repealing this 26 per cent. tax so as to put us on the same footing as the French and Belgians?
§ 39. Captain W. BENNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the German Government has given notice that it will not reimburse the German reparation recovery duties collected on German imports into Great Britain; and, if so, whether it is intended to continue to collect these duties?
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYI have seen statements of such an intention as far as concerns goods exported under a licence obtained from the Franco-Belgian authorities in the occupied territories, but I am not aware that an official announcement to this effect has been issued by the German Government.' There is no present intention of discontinuing the collection of the reparation levy, and if the hon. and gallant Member knows of any case in which the British Customs receipt for the levy has been 20 presented and reimbursement refused by the German Government I should be glad if he would send me full particulars.
§ Captain BENNCan it be that the Department is not aware that the German Government for some time has been refusing to reimburse, and if that be so, who pays the levies? Is it the British trader?