§ 46. Mr. HANNONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the largely-increased importation of articles to which the new duties included in the Budget provisions for the current year will apply on and after 1st July; and, seeing that this abnormal volume of imports is calculated to defeat to some extent the purpose of the new duties, namely, to raise revenue, and that in addition considerable injury is being inflicted upon certain British industries, whether he will say what steps the Government propose to take to safeguard the revenue and the interests of British trade?
§ 102. Mr. WELLSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps it is proposed to take to prevent abnormal quantities of cinematograph films being imported into this country, in view of the new duties on these goods?
104. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there has so far been any indication of the importation of foreign motor cars in excess of the normal average since he made his Budget statement; and, if so, will he consider making retrospective to 28th April, any import duties that might be placed on foreign motor cars as a result of the Finance Bill?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)I will answer these questions together. I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Torquay (Commander Williams).
§ Mr. HANNONMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the activity of a large number of agents for foreign manufacturers in this 1131 country at the present time, and the extent to which importing houses are enlarging their orders, in order to get over paying the duties after 1st July?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLVery little has occurred up to the present. The very little that has occurred of extra importation was, of course, the result of decisions taken before the Budget was announced. I have heard that there is a possibility of a large excess of orders being placed at this time, and that is why I thought it very necessary to give the public caution which I did yesterday that we should hold ourselves perfectly free, in the event of any extensive importation, to ask the House to give us powers to impose taxes retrospectively from the date of my announcement.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it supposed to be a crime to import these articles? What is all this talk about warnings?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no question of moral turpitude, but only the great importance of protecting the revenue, and also of not allowing trade to be violently dislocated by an altogether undue influx of imports.
Captain BENNCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, since yesterday, he has discovered any precedent for a retrospctive import tax being imposed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not occupied my time since yesterday in researches into precedents. It is quite reasonable, if you give a very long time for the discussion of taxes, to make sure that the purpose of Parliament is not defeated in the interval.
§ Major CRAWFURDWill the right hon. Gentleman occupy his time in seeing if there is a precedent?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINEvery precedent has to have a start.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat matter will have to be debated should the occasion arise.
§ 93. Mr. FENBY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of complete gramophones imported during the years 1922, 1923 and 1924; and can he state the amount of duty collected on the same during these periods?
1132§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to this question involves a tabular statement of figures, which, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement.
§ STATEMENT showing the total Number of Gramophanes and Phonographs imported into the United Kingdom during each of the years 1922, 1923 and 1924, and the net amount of duty collected in the same periods.
| Year (1) | Numbers imported (2) | Net amount of duty collected (3) | |
| £ | |||
| 1922 | … | 118,248 | 34,714 |
| 1923* | … | 72,220 | 28,159 |
| 1924* | … | 66,964 | 2,167† |
| * As from 1st April, 1923, the figures relate to Gre at Britain and Notheran Ireland only. | |||
| †The duty lapsed on 1st August, 1924. |
94. Captain BENNasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount collected under the McKenna Duties on children's toys during the years 1922, 1923 and 1924?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI regret that the information required is not available.
Captain BENNCannot the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea what the product of this fruitful source of revenue might be?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot add anything to the answer I have given. I gather, however, that the only toys that would be affected would be toy musical instruments.
§ 100. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he v ill consider the complication! that formerly existed through what are called commercial cars not being subjected to Motor Tax on import; whether he will make the tax comprehensive so as to include all motors; and, in the event of being unable to do so, whether he will insist that when once a car is imported as a pleasure car there can be no refund because of subsequent conversion to a commercial car?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI could not agree to extend the scope of the new Import 1133 Duties in the sense suggested in the second part of the question. I have noted my hon. and gallant Friend's other suggestions.
§ Mr. HARRISIs a car used by a commercial traveller a. commercial car, or is it a car for pleasure purposes?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI could not attempt to interpret the Acts of Parliament without due notice.