§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider allowing gifts sent or brought back by troops on active service to be imported free of duty up to a larger amount than 10s.; and if he is aware of the feeling of injustice felt by all concerned, at the present arrangements.
§ Mr. GaitskellThere is at present no limit to the number of parcels of 10s. or less in value which members of the Forces may send home free of duty and Purchase Tax. I should not be prepared to raise the maximum value of such parcels without reverting to the labels scheme which operated at the end of the war, when a limit was also placed on the total value of parcels which might be sent home during the year. I do not think that the few complaints we have received about the present arrangements would justify replacing the present simple system with a scheme which would make demands on manpower disproportionate to the advantages achieved.