§ Sir R. BIRDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number and value of imports of commercial motor vehicles in the years 1923, 1924, and 1925, distinguishing between complete vehicles and chassis for commercial vehicles?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe numbers and values of imported commercial motor vehicles during the years in question were:
Value. Vehicles. £ 1923 771 141,419 1924 1,319 174,556 1925 (ten months) 559 97,462 The comparative figures with regard to chassis for commercial vehicles are not available, as no special account was kept of exempt chassis during the period from 2nd August, 1924, to 30th June, 1925, when the motor car duties were not operative.
§ Sir R. BIRDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the value of imports for 1923 and 1924 and the first 10 months of 1925 of parts of motor cars, distinguishing between parts for use in private motor cars and parts for use in commercial vehicles: whether he is satisfied that private car parts and commercial vehicle parts can be accurately distinguished on landing; and whether he is aware that a large amount of parts classified on importation as intended for use in private cars are, in fact, used for commercial vehicles?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe value of the imports of all motor car parts during
* Excluding taxation revenue raised by States.
2546W1923 was £2,097,070, during 1924 £3,371,051, and during the first 10 months of 1925 £2,376,208. In 1923 the value of parts of commercial vehicles (i.e., parts exempt from duty on importation) was £462,796. Comparable figures for 1924 and 1925 are not available owing to the lapse of the duties from 2nd August, 1924, to 30th June, 1925. With regard to the last part of the question, I understand that many motor parts can be readily distinguished on landing as suitable only for use in commercial vehicles. In other cases the onus of proof is on the importer. In view of the fact that parts intended for private cars are dutiable, while parts intended for commercial vehicles are not dutiable, I should doubt whether parts intended for use in commercial vehicles would on importation be declared as intended for use in private cars.