§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether arrangements had been made for Christmas parcels arriving in Port Said between 14th December and 14th January to be duty free; whether he is aware that in various instances men had to club together to pay the duty charged on these, and will he make inquiries into these cases;
(2) why photographs of the wives and families of members of the forces serving in Egypt, or the vicinity, have been charged with duty, in view of the arrangements made for their exemption?
2011W
§ Captain WaterhouseAs stated in the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. R. J. Taylor) on 13th December, a limited concession was made by the Egyptian customs authorities in respect of Christmas presents, except tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, sent in parcels to members of the British forces serving in Egypt. I can only assume that the cases to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers were outside the scope of this concession. As my right hon. Friend stated on the previous occasion, the question of levying customs duty on parcels sent from this country to British troops in Egypt is a matter for the Egyptian authorities.