§ 29. Mr. PIKEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total value and nature of goods imported from Russia Since 13th April, 1933, to the nearest available date; and the total receipts from licence duty paid in accordance with Part II, Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act, 1933, in respect of such importations?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEIn reply to the first part of the question, I regret that the information is not available, as statistics of imports into the United Kingdom are compiled only in respect of calendar months. As regards the second part of the question, no fees are being charged at present to importers in respect of licences issued under Section 2 of the Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act, 1933.
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEEach application for a licence is considered on its merits.
§ Mr. MAXTONCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say if his Department is making any effort to get the statistics of the Department into such a form that Ministers may give more adequate answers in these matters than they are giving at present?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLENo, Sir. It has not yet been proved that they are inadequate.
§ Mr. PIKEDoes my hon. and gallant Friend say that no licence duty is at present being charged? If so, can he say if the volume of imports from Russia without licence duty payment really justifies the existence of Part II of the Act at all?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEYes, indeed it does.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs there a special prohibition in operation against Russian trade at the moment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEYes, Sir, and the House has been informed fully of the special reasons why it applies.
§ 32. Mr. PIKEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether licences under Part II of the Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act, 1933, are granted to import goods of a stated value irrespective of their classification, or whether licence must be obtained for each classification irrespective of their value?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLELicences under Section 2 of the Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act, 1933, are only granted in respect of particular consignments and each application is dealt with on its merits.
§ Mr. PIKEDoes the Minister mean that they are granted only in so far as the classification of the importation is concerned, or are they granted on the consignment itself irrespective of classification? Will he answer the latter part of the question?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI think that my original answer explains that in respect of particular consignments, they are considered on their merits, and has regard to the statement which I made a few days ago as to the line by which the Government proceed in dealing with special licences.