Miss Wardasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the import duty and Purchase Tax imposed on personal 975W presents sent from U.S.A., often resulting in a charge on the gift of its value; and will he consider allowing these gifts into this country on the same basis as food parcels.
§ Mr. PeakeI am afraid I could not agree to exempt personal presents from the U.S.A. from the import duty and Purchase Tax imposed by law. Foodstuffs are not chargeable with Purchase Tax, but it is not the case that all food parcels sent as presents are treated as exempt from import duty.