§ 29. Mr. CRAWFURDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of applications, and the amount claimed, received by His Majesty's Commissioners of Customs during the year 1928 for drawbacks and rebates on the export of silk; and can he state the number allowed and the average time required for the investigation of such claims?
Mr. SAMUELThe records available do not distinguish between drawback claims in respect of silk goods and drawback claims in respect of artificial silk goods. The total number of claims paid in respect of both silk and artificial silk goods during the year 1928 was 455,797, and the net amount of drawback paid was £2,055,660. There is no separate record of the number of claims lodged during the year, but it would approximate to the number of claims paid. The time required for the investigation of claims varies in accordance with the circumstances of each case and no average can be given.
§ Mr. CRAWFURDIs the hon. Member aware that one business house in London alone has had to make 30,000 applications this year in respect of articles made in this country and to employ a special staff of several people to deal with them?