§ Mr. Chetwyndasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the preparation of a Bill to consolidate the enactments relating to the management of Customs and Excise.
§ Mr. GaitskellA draft has been prepared which will be examined by a Committee which I have set up with the following terms of reference
To consider a draft Bill submitted to the Committee by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise designed to consolidate the enactments relating to the management of Customs and Excise with such amendments as are desirable for the purpose of simplifying them and bringing them into conformity with the requirements of modern practice and conditions; and to report whether the draft Bill, either as submitted to the Committee or with such alterations as they think proper to suggest, reproduces the existing law subject only to alterations of the description mentioned above, and, in particular, whether the Committee consider that any such alterations are of such importance that they ought, in their opinion, to be separately enacted by Parliament.I am glad to say that Lord Kennet has agreed to act as Chairman and Lord Nathan as Deputy Chairman. The other members will be:The hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benson); the hon. Member for Chippenham (Mr. Eccles); Sir Otto Mundy, lately Deputy Chairman, Board of Customs and Excise; Sir Leonard Browett, Director of the National Union of Manufacturers; Mr. M. H. B. Gilmour, Chief Solicitor to the British Transport Commission; Mr. R. G. Glenday, Economic Adviser to the Federation of British Industries; Mr. J. Gifford Gordon, representing 190W the General Council of British Shipping; Mr. F. Huth Jackson, Vice-Chairman, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, representing the Association of British Chambers of Commerce; Mr. H. E. Marking, Secretary and Solicitor, British European Airways, who will also represent the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British Air Charter Association; Mr. P. W. Martin, Deputy General Manager, Port of London Authority, representing the Dock and Harbour Authorities Association and also certain organisations of Wharfingers, Master Lightermen and Barge owners; and Mr. H. T. Parkin a Member of the Transportation Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce. Mr. A. R. Jabez-Smith of His Majesty's Customs and Excise has been appointed Secretary.The Committee will meet shortly, and it is expected that an early announcement will be made as to the manner in which consultation with interested parties will take place.