HC Deb 30 January 1945 vol 407 cc1284-5
54. Mr. Walter Edwards

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that customs duty of 2s. for every 20 cigarettes is demanded from servicemen coming home to this country on leave from overseas; and if he will cause a reduction in this high tax upon our fighting men.

Sir J. Anderson

The position is not quite correctly stated in the first part of the Question. Members of His Majesty's Forces returning from overseas are allowed to bring in, free of duty, reasonable quantities of cigarettes or tobacco for their personal use, provided these are duly declared to the Customs. It is only where the quantities cannot be regarded as reasonable that payment of duty is required.

Mr. W. Edwards

If I give my right hon. Friend particulars of a case where duty of £2 0s. 7d. was demanded on 400 cigarettes, would he say that that was reasonable to a man coming on leave from the Middle East to spend 14 days in this country?

Sir J. Anderson

I really do not know; that will depend on the circumstances. If the hon. Gentleman will communicate with me, I will give him an explanation.