HC Deb 19 March 1959 vol 602 cc625-6
44. Mr. Ronald Bell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct Customs officials to allow some latitude in the application to troops returning to the United Kingdom from Cyprus of the concessional rule requiring twelve months to elapse between the purchase of an article and its entry into this country, in view of the unexpectedly sudden ending of the Cyprus emergency.

49. Mr. Leather

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has given to Customs officials to exercise discretion when applying the rule regarding payment of duty on articles purchased less than twelve months previously to troops returning from serving their country in Cyprus.

Mr. Erroll

In applying Customs regulations all possible consideration is given to troops returning from overseas, but in fairness all round discriminatory reliefs could not be justified.

In the case of the troops from Cyprus who returned on the "Empire Fowey" on Monday, the majority of their goods held pending payment of duty consisted not of goods bought in Cyprus, but of cigarettes in excess of the concessionary quantity purchased on the ship shortly before arriving in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bell

While being only partly reassured by my hon. Friend's reply, may I ask him, not so much about this one ship as generally, why in a matter which is already based on discretion special latitude could not be extended to troops who are returning at the end of an arduous and dangerous campaign which has come to an end sooner than expected and the end of which has been marked by a general amnesty to the Cypriot population? Does my hon. Friend really believe that the civilian population would resent a slight temporary concession to the returning troops?

Mr. Erroll

It is not the practice to reveal the period of ownership and use abroad which qualifies an article for relief from duty. The period varies according to the nature of the goods. As I said in my main Answer, however, in applying the regulations all possible consideration is given to troops returning from overseas.

Mr. Leather

Does my hon. Friend not agree that there are occasions when Nelson's blind eye is thoroughly justifiable? Is it not obvious that in this case some official organised a blitz on these troops? Will my hon. Friend find out who that official is and give him the rocket he deserves?

Mr. Erroll

I have myself examined this matter carefully, and I assure my hon. Friend and all hon. Members that there was no special blitz as my hon. Friend describes. No special instructions were given and, indeed, there was no special Customs search for dutiable goods, A large number of Customs officers were present at the time to facilitate the movement of the troops from the ship to the trains that were waiting for them.

Mr. Chetwynd

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many cigarettes are being confiscated in this way and what amount of duty is owing on them?

Mr. Erroll

I cannot give a precise figure, but there were substantial quantities, in excess of the concessionary amount, which were freely declared by the troops themselves.

Mr. Bell

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that, apart altogether from the question of cigarettes, when the main body of troops comes home from Cyprus there will be a lot of cameras, gramophones and articles of that character which will have been held by the men for just under a year and that it would be a very grave hardship if they were taken from the troops because on arrival in the United Kingdom they did not have enough money to pay the duty?

Mr. Erroll

I am aware of that point, and I assure my hon. Friend that it will be studied sympathetically.