HC Deb 24 June 1937 vol 325 cc1374-5
59. Mr. Emmott

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the value of the goods imported into the United Kingdom in 1936 on which no Customs duty was charged?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

As my hon. Friend is aware, the statistics of our import trade are compiled by reference to quantities, values and country of consignment and not by reference to the fact that duty has or has not been charged. Apart from the various categories of goods that are unconditionally exempt from duty under the Import Duties Act, 1932, goods of a dutiable description may be exempted from duty under various statutory conditions (e.g., under Imperial preference) but no separate, record of the value of such importations is kept. In the circumstances I regret that the information required by my hon. Friend is not wholly available. But I am having extracted an approximate figure of the value of goods unconditionally exempt from duty under the Import Duties Act, 1932, in the hope that this will assist my hon. Friend. I will let him have that information very shortly.

Sir H. Croft

Is it not a fact that the total value of goods and commodities imported into the country far exceeds that of any other country in the world?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

Yes, we are by far the largest importers in the world.

Sir P. Harris

Will the right hon. Gentleman let the whole House have particulars of those figures, which are of general interest?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

If it is the general desire, I shall be very glad to do so. I have indicated that they are approximate figures.

Mr. Maxton

Could not the right hon. Gentleman get the exact figures, as it is rather an important matter?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The hon. Member may be sure that I will do my best to give them, but it is not as simple as it looks. For example, particular articles are exempted from duty by means of a drawback and trade agreements affect figures as asked for.

Mr. Maxton

Does not the right hon. Gentleman keep a record of every transaction?