§ Mr. SIMONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that three cases of foreign scissors, consigned to Messrs. Trummel, of Manchester, were delivered at Goole, on 4th April this year and are still retained there by the Customs, who have hitherto been unable to decide whether or not they are subject to duty under the Safeguarding Act; and whether he is prepared to give a decision on the matter of these cases and to take action to prevent such delays in future?
§ Mr. PETHICK - LAWRENCEThe scissors referred to were declared at the1602W time of importation to be exempt from Customs Duty because their value was less than three halfpence each. The importer's declaration of value was questioned and, pending inquiry, he was offered delivery on deposit of a sum to cover the estimated duty. The duty chargeable in respect of the scissors has since been fixed by the Customs, and it is open to the importer to clear the goods on payment of it.