BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR (EXCISE LICENCES).

HC Deb 27 January 1931 vol 247 cc781-2

53. Mr. HANNON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise have issued instructions that exhibitors of certain articles at the British Industries Fair, among which are included gold and silver plate, require Excise licences for their stands for the period of the fair in addition to the Excise licences which these exhibitors possess in respect of their official place of business; whether he has approved of this action, which has been taken for the first time during the 15 years the British Industries Fair has been held; and, in view of the inconvenience which the obligation to secure a temporary licence involves, will he give instructions that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise will not take further action?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Philip Snowden)

In accordance with the requirements of the law all traders who solicit or take orders for articles for which Excise licences are required at the British Industries Fair or any other Exhibition must take out the necessary licences, and I cannot accept the suggestion that traders generally at the Fair have not observed the law in the past. If certain plate dealers at the Fair have not in the past complied with the law it is solely because the authorities concerned were not aware that orders for plate were being solicited or taken at the Fair. I cannot admit that the obligation to obtain a temporary licence involves any inconvenience and in any case I cannot authorise any non-observance of the law as is suggested.

Mr. HANNON

; Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the serious injury which this new move or the part of the Commissioners imposes on the British Industries Fair?

Mr. SNOWDEN

Both of the hon. Members assumptions are incorrect. In the first place, the Commissioners are imposing no burden which is not imposed by law, and, in the second place, it is not a burden of any magnitude seeing that it varies from about 11s. 6d. to 25s.

Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

Is not the burden much greater than that?

Mr. SNOWDEN

No, Sir.