HC Deb 17 June 1976 vol 913 cc717-9
6. Mr. Adley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the powers of, and the current complement of, Her Majesty's Customs.

The Minister of State, Treasury (Mr. Denzil Davies)

Yes. Sir.

Mr. Adley

Does the Minister accept that it is unrealistic and unfair to expect the current complement of Customs staff effectively to police the coastline against those who seek to break the animal quarantine regulations? If the Chancellor accepts that, does he agree that we need an effective deterrent of stiffer penalties, including the empowering of magistrates to imprison people, the immediate destruction of illegally imported animals and, if possible, the impounding of boats such as the one in Hull today?

Mr. Davies

I agree that we cannot expect Customs officials to police the coastline and solve this problem. Customs officials will liaise with harbour authorities, police authorities and other bodies asked to cope with the problem. Perhaps at the end of the day the answer will be stiffer penalties, but that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Dalyell

Supposing that the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) and his hon. Friends were to get their ludicrous way, what would be the cost of a 24-hour Customs service at Gretna, Carter Bar, Norham and Berwick? How would the Treasury propose to avoid the queues of cars when there are Glasgow holidays and Blackpool illuminations?

Mr. Davies

I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree with me that there is no danger of the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) and his hon. Friends ever taking control of this matter.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

The Minister will be aware that the House of Commons has always been jealous of its powers, in that it requires the Ministers responsible to it to have ultimate authority. The Home Secretary has ultimate control over all matters affecting people. Will the hon. Gentleman assure the House that in necessary cases the Chancellor has power to instruct Customs officers to waive Custom duties on goods entering the country?

Mr. Davies

That is another question. There is no general power for Ministers to waive duties. If Customs regulations are broken, the law has to take its course. It would be very dangerous for Ministers of the Crown to be able to waive penalties in the way suggested.

Mr. Henderson

Following the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell), does the Minister agree that one of the great attractions to hon. Members who represent English constituencies and English people generally is that, as a result of the imminent events to which the hon. Gentleman referred, English visitors to Scotland will have a generous supply of duty-free whisky to take back to England?