§ Mr. G. Hutchinsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that payment of Customs Duties on parcels remitted by men in the Armed Forces serving overseas has aroused considerable dissatisfaction; and whether he 1598W is prepared to admit such parcels without payment of duty.
§ Sir J. AndersonI would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Loverseed) on 26th September.
§ Captain Lord Irwinasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the general feeling in the services that the freedom from Purchase Tax and Customs Duty of four parcels a year from the troops in the Middle East is inadequate, he will waive the Purchase Tax on all parcels sent to their families by these troops.
§ Sir J. AndersonAs I explained to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Lover-seed) on 26th September, I regret that I cannot agree to provide unlimited freedom from Purchase Tax for parcels from the Forces overseas. The concession to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, which permits any member of those Forces, wherever stationed, to send home each year goods to a value of £8 free of Customs Duty and Purchase Tax, was designed to enable Servicemen abroad to send presents from time to time to their families and Friends. When it is remembered that no one is privileged to obtain British-made goods tax-free, this concession is, in my judgment, adequate for its purpose.