§ 53. Mr. LOUIS SMITH(for Mr. GIBSON) asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will instruct the Board of Customs to arrange that some members of the staff of the board shall be in attendance after five o'clock each evening in order to answer inquiries made, either verbally or in writing, on behalf of importers and exporters carrying on trade who may desire information with respect to regulations issued by the Board under the Import Duties Act in order to facilitate the trade of the country?
§ Major ELLIOTThe hours at which Customs offices are open to members of the public having business with the Department are of longstanding usage, and I do not see any good reason for extending them; but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any cases in which difficulty has arisen, I shall certainly have them looked into.
§ Mr. SMITHDoes my right hon. Friend fully realise that the several Acts of Parliament passed during recent months will increase the demand for service from the Customs offices, and that industry may well on many occasions require information after five o'clock in the evening?
§ Major ELLIOTI think that it will be reasonable to ask for cases in which difficulty has arisen. I have promised to have such cases looked into.