§ 13. Mr. Wallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the seizure by customs officers of Rhodesian stamps.
§ Mr. Harold LeverGoods imported from Southern Rhodesia in contravention of the prohibition on their importation are liable to seizure under Section 44 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, and Rhodesian stamps have been seized under that provision.
§ Mr. WallDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that the seizure of a single Rhodesian stamp from an amateur collector makes not only his Department but the whole country look ridiculous? What will he do to restore the property of those who have exchanged or bought stamps through a third country?
§ Mr. LeverIt is never ridiculous to enforce the declared and explicit intention of Parliament, and that is all that is being dole in this case.
§ Mr. John FraserDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that hon. Members on this 282 by which we are committed to pay certain of these debts?
§ Following is the information.
§ side of the House are much more interested in the detention of coloured Africans than the detention of the Penny Black? In so far as the seizures are necessary to bring about majority rule, the Treasury has the full support of hon. Members on this side of the House.
§ 14. Mr. Wallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present estimated cost to Great Britain of maintaining sanctions against Rhodesia.
§ Mr. Harold LeverThe cost to the Exchequer, including contingency support for Zambia, was£34.8 million between i.d.i. and 30th September, 1968.
§ Mr. WallCould the hon. Gentleman give the House a more genuine figure, including the loss of trade and invisibles, such as banking and insurance, the purchase of dollar tobacco and so on?
§ Mr. LeverI was asked a specific and factual Question, to which I have given the most accurate answer available. I am not in a position to rove into a more speculative field.
§ Mr. E. L. MallalieuIs my hon. Friend aware that many of us on this side of the House regard the price as cheap? Will he and the Government do all they can to see that sanctions are stepped up to the highest degree possible for which they can get international agreement?
§ Mr. LeverWe enforce the sanctions which Parliament thinks fit to enforce. and do so in accordance with Parliament's intention.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIn the absence of an agreement, which we on this side of the House at least devoutly hope the Government will reach, for how many years are the Government prepared to go on with sanctions, which have signally failed in their object?
§ Mr. RoseWill my hon. Friend give an estimate of the damage to the British economy which would follow if those countries supporting the United Nations Resolution on sanctions were to break off trading relations with this country?