§ 31. Mr. Burkeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that members of the Forces in Malta have to pay 12s. 6d. duty on 8s. 4d. worth of cigarettes sent to them from this country; and whether he will take steps with a view to giving the Forces in Malta the same privileges as are generally enjoyed by members of the Forces serving abroad?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Colonel Oliver Stanley)The duty-free entry of tobacco and cigarettes for members of His Majestys Forces in Malta was limited to 2 ozs. of tobacco or 100 cigarettes a time, as free issues of locally manufactured cigarettes are made as field service rations, and the duty on the tobacco used in their manufacture is refunded to the Services by the Government of Malta. The limit was recently increased to 4 ozs. of tobacco or 120 cigarettes in order to obtain the benefit of the United Kingdom duty drawback, which is not allowed on lesser quantities than these.