HC Deb 20 March 1945 vol 409 cc620-1
32. Lieut.-Colonel Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for War whether adequate facilities are provided for personnel to inform themselves of the necessity to obtain the special label A.F.W. 5192 issued and countersigned by an officer of the unit in which the sender is serving before sending home a parcel free of customs duty and purchase tax.

Sir J. Grigg

As far as I am aware the answer is, "Yes, Sir."

Lieut.-Colonel Mayhew

Is my right hon. Friend aware that numbers of parcels are coming home on which the recipients have to pay sums far in excess of the value of the contents, which is a considerable hardship, and could he take steps to prevent this?

Sir J. Grigg

The only possible way in which that can be prevented is to give soldiers serving abroad unlimited freedom to send home parcels duty free, and on that question the Chancellor has given answers in the House from time to time.