HC Deb 12 June 1958 vol 589 cc406-7
42. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that present regulations enable Customs and Excise officers to seize from travellers coming into Britain imported gifts and imported second-hand articles which they suspect are dutiable and, on non-payment of duty, to have them valued by undisclosed valuers, and that these regulations operate harshly; and if he will so amend the regulations as to ensure that bona fide gifts and bona fide second-hand articles may, on credible evidence being adduced, be imported by bona fide travellers free of duty.

Mr. Simon

No Sir. The Customs are not empowered to seize imported articles merely because they suspect that the articles are dutiable. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Customs do not make harsh use of the statutory authority which they have to seize goods on which they have reason to believe the duty legally due has not been paid. He cannot agree to introduce the legislation necessary to free imported gifts and second-hand articles from liability to duty.

Mr. Hughes

Does not the Minister realise that here is a real wrong which is awaiting a remedy; that there is a conflict between natural justice and the avarice of the Customs and Excise? Does he realise, moreover, that it is a threat to our tourist industry and its subsidiary industries which provide a large proportion of the national income? Will he look into this again in relation to the particular matters about which I wrote to him?

Mr. Simon

Save that I agree with the hon. and learned Gentleman that the tourist industry makes a valuable contribution to the economy of this country, the answer to each part of his supplementary question is. "No, Sir".