§ 54. Sir ELLIS HUME - WILLIAMSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Customs examinations at Victoria Station are carried out on the open platform under circumstances which endanger the health 332 of all concerned; and whether he will cause immediate steps to be taken, either by the Customs House authorities or by the Southern Railway Company, to provide some sort of shelter in which the necessary examination of luggage may take place with reasonable comfort both to passengers and officers of the Customs department?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs I have explained on previous occasions, the arrangements and provision of accommodation for Customs examination at Victoria Station are entirely matters for the railway company.
§ Sir E. HUME-WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that for the last three or four years the railway companies have been promising to make proper arrangements for the convenience of passengers, and will he bring pressure —and it will have to be considerable pressure—to bear upon the Southern Railway to carry out the undertakings given?
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that a very large number of people in this and other countries think that the Customs officials are a nuisance?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs it not a fact that the Customs proceed more expeditiously here than in any other capital?
§ Mr. A. ALEXANDERIs the Chancellor aware that the position is much more acute as a result of the imposition by him of Safeguarding Duties, and that therefore he should bring pressure to bear on the railway?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have no constitutional means of bringing pressure to bear on the railway company, but I have no doubt that the authorities controlling that railway will follow the debates in this House.
§ Sir E. HUME-WILLIAMSThe right hon. Gentleman is an optimist.
§ Mr. SIDNEY WEBBWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the arrangements for the exercise of the duties of the Customs officials are not actually made by the Commissioners of Customs, and can only be carried out with the approval of the Treasury?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is more a question of premises than of procedure.
§ Mr. WEBBWill the Chancellor say whether all premises in which the Customs examinations are carried out have to be directed as well as approved by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and that no examinations can take place except on the orders of the Commissioners in the premises and in the place where they order it to be carried out? I ask the right hon. Gentleman if that is not a fact?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo doubt we have certain claims, but the question whether those claims can be unreasonably pushed is one to be decided on the merits in each case, and the Customs officers have not been able to say at present that they cannot discharge their duties.
§ Mr. WEBBI ask whether it would not be correct to say that the existing arrangements are carried on with the approval of the Commissioners of Customs?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that would be going too far.