§ 18 and 19. Mr. BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can submit a Return to the House showing the quantity and value of frozen beef for export for the months of February, 1923, 1924, and 1925;
(2) whether he can submit a Return to the House giving the names of the firms who exported the quantity of frozen beef as shown on page 183 in the Monthly Statement of Trade for February, 1925?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE - LISTERAs the reply contains a table of figures, I will, with the permission of the hon. Member, have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The quantities and declared values of frozen beef re-exported during the months in question were as follow:
208§ Mr. MORRISCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether there has been a decrease, and whether that decrease is due to the Dyestuffs Act?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe hon. Member will be able to see the figures on the Return. I am quite satisfied that the Dyestuffs Act, which, I think, means the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, will have no adverse effects at all.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The following statement shows the quantities of certain kinds of cotton goods of United Kingdom manufacture exported during each of the years 1913 and 1924:
| Cwts. | £ | ||
| February, 1923 | … | 5,884 | 14,269 |
| February, 1924 | … | 11,371 | 25,110 |
| February, 1925 | … | 50,684 | 75,058 |
§ It is not the practice to give the names of exporters, and so disclose the nature and extent of the business of particular individuals or firms, and I do not see my way to vary the practice in the present instance.
§ 20. Mr. BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Customs statistical office accept the declarations made by exporters of frozen beef without satisfactory documentary evidence; and whether the Customs authority have any powers under statute to demand such evidence, and if it was exercised to verify the value of the February consignments?
The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Guinness)I have been asked to reply. Where there is any reason to doubt the accuracy of information in declarations made by exporters, the exporters are called upon to substantiate their declarations by documentary 209 evidence. The Customs are empowered by statute to demand such evidence, and these powers were exercised in regard to some of the consignments of frozen beef included in the figures in the February trade accounts.