§ 58. Mr. G. NICHOLSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the steamship "Glamorganshire" was classed as a foreign ship for purposes of import duty, although she had been on the British register for 17 years, with the result that she was sold to Dutch shipbreakers; and whether he will issue instructions to the Customs officers at ports in this country to prevent this happening in future?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI understand that the ss. "Glamorganshire" was built in Japan. That being so, she would have been liable to Customs duty if imported into this country for breaking up, and the liability would not have been affected by the fact that she was on the British register or in British ownership. I regret therefore that I am unable under the existing law to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion. As he is, however, aware, the general question is one for the Import Duties Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. NICHOLSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a most farcical position; that the ship in question was built in Japan during the War when our shipyards were fully occupied, and has been in British hands ever since it was launched; and does he really think that it is the intention of His Majesty's Gov- 1174 ernment that such an anomalous situation should arise?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe mere British ownership of goods affords no ground for exemption from duty. Otherwise, as my hon. Friend would see, it would be easy to transfer the ownership to British hands of any imported goods in order to avoid the duty. That is one of the difficulties, but I assure my hon. Friend that the Import Duties Advisory Committee, in spite of that, is looking into the case.
§ Sir H. SAMUELCan the hon. Gentleman form any estimate of the number of British working people who have been deprived of work by this form of tariff legislation?