§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the bonds to be issued by the German Government in respect of the reparation levy, as stated in the Board of Trade Journal, 29th February, 1924, will be accepted by the German Government at their face value in payment of German customs, duties and taxes?
§ Mr. SNOWDENSo far as I am aware, the answer is in the negative.
§ Major OWENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether fish brought into Great Britain by German boats is liable for reparation duty; and, if so, what amount has been so collected?
§ Mr. SNOWDENFish first consigned from Germany to Great Britain, in common with other goods so consigned, is liable to reparation levy. Fish brought into Great Britain by German boats is accordingly liable to reparation levy if caught in or brought from German territorial waters. The amount of levy collected in respect of such fish cannot be stated.
§ Major OWENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount collected by His Majesty's Board of Customs on German reparations for the year 1921–22 and 1923; and for what purpose this money has been used?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question on the same subject to the hon. Member for the Farnham Division (Mr. A. M. Samuel) on the 4th March.
§ Mr. BARCLAYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to whom British firms should apply who desire to be reimbursed for reparation levy which they have paid during the period when Germany was not honouring the receipts issued by the British Government;
1610W(2) whether a British firm which have already sent their British customs receipt for reparation levy to their German supplier must recover possession of the receipt before they can collect the amount, or will their German supplier be able to obtain the necessary repayment from the German Government;
(3) what is the exact nature of the gold bonds which are to be issued by the German Government in reimbursement of reparation levy; and what use British firms can make of them when received, assuming there is no market for such bonds in this country?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe German Government has undertaken to reimburse to German exporters the sums paid to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise in respect of goods subject to the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, imported before the 26th ultimo in gold mark Federal Treasury Bonds. It has been agreed between the British and German Governments that it is understood that the proceeds of the reimbursement (i.e., the cash obtained by the German exporters by discounting these Bonds) should be allocated in accordance with the incidence of the levy. Assuming therefore that the British importer has borne the levy himself, he should apply to the German exporter for a refund of the proceeds of the reimbursement and, if he still retains the Customs receipt in his possession, should arrange for such a refund when sending the Customs receipt to the German exporter. The exact nature of the bonds is described in the announcement made on page 271 of the Board of Trade Journal on the 28th ultimo. It will be observed that the bonds will be issued to the German exporters (and not to the British importers) in all cases, and that there is therefore no question of finding a market for the bonds in this country. It will also be observed that the Customs receipts must in all cases be sent to the German exporter if reimbursement is to be obtained by him.