§ 50. Mr. DAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which of the articles seized or confiscated by the Customs authorities it is the practice of his Department to hand over to other Government Departments; and whether any payment is made for such articles towards the Customs Duty outstanding; and will he give particulars?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONUnless their importation is prohibited, goods seized or confiscated by the Customs are normally sold at a duty-paid price and the proceeds carried to the Crown's account. But tobacco fit for smoking is sent free of charge to the criminal lunatic asylums for consumption by the inmates, and tobacco unfit for human consumption is sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens for fumigating purposes. As a special exception, a recent importation of matches, which would otherwise have had to be destroyed because the boxes were not properly marked, was 29 handed over to the Office of Works for use in Government Departments, on payment of the duty involved.
§ Mr. DAYCan the hon. and learned Gentleman say what that payment was, and whether it was cheaper than buying?
§ Mr. MORRISONNot without notice, but I can assure the hon. Member that it was the amount of the duty involved.
§ Mr. THORNECan the hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the sale of the undergarments was advertised?
§ Mr. MORRISONI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs it the duty of the Financial Secretary to decide when tobacco is fit or not fit for human consumption?
§ Mr. MORRISONNo, Sir; these matters are generally dealt with Depart-mentally, and I have not yet been asked for a Ministerial decision on the subject.