HC Deb 16 July 1925 vol 186 cc1538-9
41. Mr. MORRIS for

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the wife and children of an elector in the Bradford East Division, in returning recently from a short summer holiday spent in Guernsey, had their personal luggage held up at Weymouth by the Customs authorities, who demanded payment of duty on silk dresses and blouses and a baby's overall, although the dresses and blouses were in fact bought in Bradford two 3'ears ago; and whether he will give instructions, without delay, to have the goods forwarded to the owner in Bradford?

Mr. GUINNESS

I am informed that no personal luggage has been detained at Weymouth. A package containing clothing addressed to a consignee in Bradford was imported in the ordinary way as ships' cargo and entered with the Customs by the Great Western Railway as the importer's agent. The railway company ascertained on inquiry of the consignee that the clothing consisted of old personal effects, except for one overall, which had been bought as a present. All the contents were at once released by the Customs without charge to duty, except the overall, which was necessarily kept back pending payment of the duty to which it is liable.

Mr. MORRIS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the husband and wife went over to Guernsey for a holiday from Bradford, taking their clothing with than, and among that clothing were silk articles, and that when they returned, they were asked to pay Silk Duty upon goods which they had taken out?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is exactly the? question which is on the Paper.

Mr. MORRIS

This is a journey to Guernsey by these people and not the question answered by the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. GUINNESS

If they had brought these articles back as personal luggage, this small duty of Is. which has been claimed would not have been demanded. Where personal effects are shipped, not as luggage, but as in this case as ships' cargo, the concession given in respect of passenger's luggage accompanying the passenger, does not apply.

Mr. MORRIS

Is the. right hon. Gentleman aware that in this case the goods were brought back as personal luggage by the wife? They were personal articles bought at Bradford. and brought back as personal luggage

Mr. GUINNESS

I will gladly look into the matter, but that is not the information which has reached me.