HC Deb 27 April 1954 vol 526 cc1448-50
17. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will detail the civil aerodromes in the country where on-call Customs facilities are available.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

On-call Customs facilities are available at Valley, Nutts Corner, Hurn, Whitchurch, Rhoose, Turnhouse, Exeter, Ronaldsway, Wools-ington Renfrew, and Southampton Water.

Mr. Jones

In view of that fact, why has the right hon. Gentleman's Department declined to renew Customs facilities at the Greatham airport, having regard to the fact than one million people live within 20 miles of the airport and that in previous years Customs facilities have been granted and have been used? How does the right hon. Gentleman expect charter companies to be encouraged to run services if this is the attitude that is adopted?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the hon. Member is aware, I gave him the reason at some length in a letter a few days ago. The answer, in brief, is that the traffic there during the experiment which was allowed last year did not justify the provision of these facilities. The hon. Member may recall that the total Customs revenue obtained during the whole summer was £30.

Mr. Jones

Are we to assume from that answer that the need to provide Customs facilities is to be determined by the number of people the Customs officers catch with contraband, or will the right hon. Gentleman have some regard for the requirements of one million people when the service has been increasing progressively each year since 1951?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The requirements of one million people for this purpose are demonstrated by the number who wish to fly from this airport. As the hon. Member knows, the number last summer was disappointingly small, but, in fairness to his constituents, I ought to point out that the £30 do not relate to those found smuggling but to those who honestly declared the contents of their baggage.

Mr. Chetwynd

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the period of experiment was not long enough? Is he aware that the present action in withdrawing the Customs facilities will strangle what may be a very valuable developing airport?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the hon. Member knows, the experiment last year was offered and accepted as an experiment. I am sorry to say that I do not think that it is disputed that the figures last year did not justify on volume of traffic the provision of separate facilities.

Mr. Slater

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great dissatisfaction in the North-East, especially on Tees-side, at the fact that these Customs facilities are not now operating? Who is responsible for determining when Customs facilities shall be granted to particular airports?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The responsibility, of course, is that of Ministers and they must decide on general principles applicable to the country as a whole and treating one applicant fairly as compared with another.

18. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will detail the civil aerodromes in this country where his Department have refused to grant any Customs facilities.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Customs facilities have been refused for the civil aerodromes at Blackpool, Greatham, Haver-fordwest, Luton and Ramsgate.

Mr. Jones

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that in the communication to which he referred he said that the basis of granting Customs facilities was to grant them for each geographical area in the country? Are not the circumstances relating to a particular area to be taken into account when Customs facilities are granted?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If the hon. Member will read my letter he will see that the main factor was the volume of traffic and that the desirability of providing some Customs facilities within each area was a separate factor. As he is aware, Customs facilities have been granted so as to provide that they are available in those parts of the country where they are required.

Mr. Jones

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the time Customs facilities have been granted at Greatham airport it has not cost the Customs authorities a single penny because the operating company have not only paid the wages of the Customs officers while at the airport, but actually paid for their transport to and from the airport?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

While not necessarily accepting the whole of that supplementary question, I would ask the hon. Member to appreciate that these facilities—which have a commercial value—must be given on general and defensible principles fair to all and cannot possibly be granted on the sort of grounds to which he has referred.