68. Mr. Patonasked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that our troops serving in Malta are denied the duty-free N.A.A.F.I. ration of cigarettes and have to pay twice the price of cigarettes supplied to troops serving in other theatres, he will consider reintroducing the sending of duty-free parcels of cigarettes from this country to Malta.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithN. A.A.F.I. 's supplies of cigarettes to Malta are free of United Kingdom duty. They are, however, liable to Maltese import duty, to which gift parcels would also be liable. It would not be desirable to reintroduce the gift parcel concession for Malta.
Mr. PatonIn view of the very real grievances being suffered here, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider some means of trying to overcome the difficulty?
§ Mr. SmithThe difficulty is that cigarettes sent in gift parcels from this country would have to bear the Maltese import duty, and if the hon. Member would like to take this a step further, representations would have to be made to the Maltese authorities.