§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are no specific regulations covering the sending of gifts and parcels of small value from people in this country to friends or relatives in the United States of America; and whether he will consider the drafting of some definite rule on this matter?
§ Sir K. WoodUnder Regulation 5B of the Defence (Finance) Regulations goods may not be sent to certain countries, including the United States of America and Canada except under a currency declaration showing that payment will be received from the country of destination. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is not in the national interest to allow goods to leave the country without an adequate return in foreign exchange and for this reason permission is not normally given to send gifts to countries to which the above mentioned Regulation applies. Special concessions have however been made to allow the sending of Christmas presents and I may refer my hon. Friend to the announcement made by the Treasury and Board of Trade on 6th November on this subject.