§ Mr. F. GRAYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a large number of German booksellers refuse to recognise the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, and that, in consequence, English booksellers are compelled to add to the purchase price 35 per cent. duty and charge it to their English customers; and whether he proposes to take action in the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have no information to this effect.
§ Mr. GRAYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that it is the practice of English importers in respect of small items of duty payable under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, in the aggregate representing a large sum, to avoid annoyance and ex-expense and to remove difficulties in trading, to pass on the duty to their customers without recovering from Germany; 2692W and whether he proposes to take action in the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have no reason to suppose that the practice described exists to any appreciable extent, and, in any case, I should not propose to take any action to relieve importers of the consequences of their failure to exercise the right given them by law.