§ 83. Mr. Errollasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the nature and variety of impart permits granted during 1949 which are conditional upon a certain proportion of the imported articles being re-exported; and what steps are taken to ensure that this condition is complied with.
§ Mr. BottomleyThere are a number of arrangements in force designed to promote entrepôt trade, but I assume that the hon. Member is referring only to those under which the importer is obliged to earmark for export a specified percentage of his imports. Arrangements of this nature are in force for silk goods, for which there is a 50 per cent. re-export condition, and for precious and 109W semi-precious stones, for which 80 per cent. of the import cost must be recovered by way of re-export. Imports of fiction and children's books were permitted until recently on a basis of 50 per cent. re-export, but this scheme has been discontinued. Under all the arrangements mentioned, importers are required to submit regular returns to Import Licensing Department with particulars of their exports.