§ 48. Sir CHARLES CAYZERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that import duty on butter from the Irish Free State is now being levied on a basic price of 69s. per cwt. although the official quotation for the Free State home market is 133s. per cwt.; and whether, in the interest of the revenue, he will take steps to enable import duty in future to be levied on the latter basis?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe prices quoted appear to be correct, but the 198 statutory value for the purpose of the charge of duty is the price ruling on the import market in this country and not the market price in the country of origin. Duty could not be levied on the latter basis without an alteration of the law.