§ 51. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any recent cases have been brought to his notice of smuggling in the Solent; and whether he is satisfied that the closing of all coastguard stations on the Solent, leaving only one Customs coast-watcher to patrol a 10-mile stretch of coast with very few houses, has not led to a revival of this practice?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hore-Belisha)It is contrary to policy to publish information as to cases of attempted smuggling in any particular neighbourhood, but I am advised that the present measures for safeguarding the Revenue in the Solent and elsewhere on the coastline are adequate for the purpose and more efficient than those which previously prevailed.