§ Sir F. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedure is adopted by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to ascertain the true value of goods imported under the Safeguarding of Industries Act., 1921, Part I; and whether any question as to suggested values has been referred to the referee under Section 10 of that Act?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe normal practice of the Commissioners of Customs and, Excise is to fix the value of goods under Section 10 of the Act by reference to the invoice price to the importer, plus freight and insurance, except in cases where there isprima facie ground for suspicion 1579W that the full consideration for the purchase is not disclosed in the invoice, or that the transaction is not a bona fide sale to a genuine purchaser for value in the open market. In such cases the Commissioners fix the value independently of the invoice price. It is open to any importer who is dissatisfied with the value fixed by the Commissioners to require the matter to be referred to the referee appointed under Section 10 of the Act, but so far no such reference has been required.