59. Sir F. HALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantity of imported goods returned to their country of origin since the date when the eventual abolition of the McKenna Duties was announced; and if he will state what is the amount of the duties repaid to the importers of such goods?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second part, the amount refunded in drawback on the exportation of goods liable to the McKenna Duties since the announcement of the abolition of those duties in my Budget speech down to the 19th July, inclusive, is £73,284.
Sir F. HALLAm I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman is unable to give the information asked for in the first part of the question? Surely the Treasury have got it.
§ Mr. SNOWDENNo, we have not got it, because the accounts are not kept in a form such as will enable details and particulars to be extracted in the form asked for by the hon. Member.
§ Lieut-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs this extra £73,000 in addition to the £2,500,000 already lost through the abolition of the duties?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI estimated that the revenue from the McKenna Duties during the current year would be something like £240,000 or £250,000, but already that amount has been exceeded by about £200,000.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIs it not a fact that, if the duties had been kept on, the Estimates would have been proportionately larger?
§ Mr. SNOWDENIt is true that had the duties been kept on, there would have been a larger revenue during the year, but we should not have had the enjoyment of the compensating advantages which have accrued to the trade by the abolition of the duties.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis little interlude seems to be an escape from yesterday.