HC Deb 06 August 1925 vol 187 cc1531-6
25. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there is dissatisfaction among traders at Customs delays and other difficulties caused by the silk and other duties; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

36. Mr. ARTHUR GREENWOOD

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in consequence of delayed deliveries owing to Customs formalities in connection with the duties on silk, overseas buyers of silk goods have decided to cease purchasing through London and to do their future buying on the Continent; whether he is aware that, owing to the delay in clearing parcels from the Customs, consignments now taking as many weeks as they formerly took days to arrive from the Continent, serious hindrance is being caused to business, and that the procedure for obtaining drawback on exported silk and rayon is so complicated that firms are expressing their unwillingness to trouble about maintaining their export connections; and whether, in view of the adverse effect upon the London market, he can state what steps are being taken to remove the cause of these delays?

Mr. GUINNESS

I have ascertained that complaints of delay have not been general, but have been confined to certain Cross-Channel ports. In these places I am satisfied that the Customs officials have dealt and are dealing promptly with importations as soon as the necessary documents have been submitted to them. One cause of delay in the first instance was the failure of foreign consignors to give propel particulars of the goods to the importers in this country. A considerable improvement has now taken place in this respect, which should enable the traders handling the goods at the ports in question to operate with greater expedition. I may add that the Customs authorities are working in closest co-operation with the interests concerned.

Captain WEDGWOOD BENN

Is the staff being augmented to deal with this alleged congestion?

Mr. GUINNESS

It is not a question of the Customs staff. Owing to the new system there has undoubtedly been a certain difficulty with those who handle the goods before they come to the Customs. I understand that the railway companies are increasing their staffs to deal with the matter.

Major HORE-BELISHA

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Postmaster-General with a view to speeding up the delivery of parcels?

Mr. GUINNESS

I will draw attention to the matter.

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

Is there not a considerable advantage to British industry owing to the restriction of foreign importation?

Captain O'CONNOR

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great deal of the delay occurs in London and that the seasonal trade has been hampered considerably in places like Luton owing to the holding up of these goods?

Mr. GUINNESS

I am quite aware that Luton especially has been inconvenienced in that way. We are doing our very best to get these matters dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

28. Colonel DAY

3 asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the estimated cost of the new warehouses being built to cope with the import of silk goods and other dutiable articles; and the number of additional workers who have been engaged to deal with the said imports, together with the approximate wages cost of such employ¹s?

34. Captain BENN

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any Customs warehouses are to be built at Dover; whether any additional staff will be required for them; and, if so, what is the estimated cost of the premises and staff?

Mr. GUINNESS

Warehouses for the storage of dutiable commodities pending payment of duty are not provided by the Crown but by the traders concerned, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. I am informed that, so far as the Commissioners are aware, no new warehouses are being built for the purpose of the new duties imposed by the last Finance Act; but even if such were the case, I should not be in a position to give any information as to the estimated cost of construction. I have no information in regard to any additional workers whom traders may be employing.

Captain BENN

May I take it that the statement that any extensions are being made at Dover is inaccurate?

Mr. GUINNESS

It may be that there are extensions being made on the premises of the railway company, but no extensions are being made on premises provided by the Government to which the question refers.

Captain BENN

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what additional charge is imposed on industry by these extensions?

31. Mr. DALTON

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the volume and value of goods liable to the Silk Duty that have been imported; whether there has been delay in clearing the goods; and whether it is proposed to erect additional buildings at certain ports for the storage of silk and goods containing silk that are liable to the duty?

Mr. GUINNESS

In reply to the first part of the question, statistics of the imports of silk goods and of the revenue derived therefrom for the month of July are not yet available. The import statistics will appear in the "Monthly Trade Accounts" for July, which will be published in ordinary course next week. In reply to the second and third parts of the question, I would refer to the answers I have just given to the hon. Member for West Leicester and the hon. and gallant Member for Central South wark, respectively.

32. Mr. FORREST

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the collection of the Silk Duties is involving, or has involved, any increase in the numbers of the employés of the Customs and Excise; and, if so, to what extent?

Mr. GUINNESS

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull on the 23rd July.

33. Captain BENN

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether bales of rags imported for the purpose of producing shoddy are liable to duty if containing any rags or old garments wholly or partially made of silk or lace; and whether the duty is levied on the whole value of the bale, or on what proportion thereof?

Mr. GUINNESS

This matter is under discussion between the Customs authorities and the trade associations, so far as silk rags are concerned. It is understood that the practice of the trade is to reject such rags from other rags before manufacture of the latter into shoddy. In these circumstances it is anticipated that arrangements can be made to relieve the silk rags from duty. No question has been raised in this connection as regards lace rags.

Mr. HANNON

What exactly does the right hon. Gentleman mean by a rag?

Mr. DALTON

Did not the right hon. Gentleman give me last week an answer in which he stated that these so-called rags were not going to be taxed?

Mr. GUINNESS

That was in connection with paper making, and I informed the hon. Gentleman that arrangements were being made to exempt these consignments from duty if evidence were produced that they went straight to the paper-making machine. No doubt some such convenient arrangement can be made in connection with the maufacture of shoddy.

Captain BENN

What are the manufacturers to do pending the result of these discussions?

Mr. RILEY

Will these rags be liable to duty, or will they not?

Mr. GUINNESS

Not if they are used as the raw material for making paper or shoddy, but I understand that this matter need not cause any particular difficulty.

39. Mr. W. M. ADAMSON

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the formalities laid down by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, in relation to the export drawbacks in connection with the duties on silk, are causing grave inconvenience to those engaged in the industry and creating much confusion; and whether he can hold out any prospect of the simplification of this procedure?

Mr. GUINNESS

The arrangements as regards drawbacks have been and are being made throughout in consultation with all branches of the trade, and I am not aware that any inconvenience is being caused. In point of fact, owing to the large duty-free stocks at present held in the country, the number of drawback transactions which have so far taken place, has necessarily been negligible.

Mr. HARRIS

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider issuing printed forms directing shippers as to the procedure to follow in order to get the drawback?

Mr. GUINNESS

I will draw the attention of the Customs authorities to that matter.

43. Mr. VIANT

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the amount of tax paid on silk and artificial silk manufactured in this country since the introduction of the tax on silk and artificial silk; and what was the number of Excise officers engaged on collecting the duty and the cost of collection?

Mr. GUINNESS

I regret that the figures asked for in the first part of the question are not yet available. In reply to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull on the 23rd July.

44. Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGAN

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of articles partly manufactured of silk that have been imported into this country since the introduction of the Silk Duty: what was the total value of the same; how much revenue has been obtained; and what was the cost of the staff employed on collecting the duty?

Mr. GUINNESS

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I have given to-day to the hon. Member for Peckham (Mr. Dalton) and, as regards the last part of the question, to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken worthy) on the 23rd July.