§ Mr. Shoreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total yield of Customs duties on imports from Commonwealth countries in each of the last three years; and what effect he anticipates in 1974 following the 40 per cent. adjustment towards the EEC's common external tariff as envisaged in the recent import duties orders.
§ Mr. HigginsThe yield of Customs protective duties on goods imported under Commonwealth preference arrangements in the last three financial years was:
£ million 1970–71 1.3 1971–72 2.4 1972–73 11.8 Figures of the yield in the last three financial years on all imports from Commonwealth countries, including those goods not entitled to entry at preference rates, could not be extracted except at a disproportionate cost. The figures quoted relate to goods liable under the Import Duties Act 1958 and do not include receipts from revenue duties. No quantitative estimate has been made of the effects of the anticipated adjustments towards the EEC common external tariff.