HC Deb 26 March 1953 vol 513 cc87-8W
38. Mr. Holt

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give separately the value of import duties imposed on Classes I, II and III imports into the United Kingdom during 1952 chargeable on a specific basis and on an ad valorem basis; and the respective values of imports so charged.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I am advised that the values of imported goods included in Classes I, II and III of the Import List which were entered for home consumption on payment of duty atad valorem rates during the calendar year 1952 and the net amounts of duty charged upon them were as follows:

£ Million
Value Amount of duty
Class I … … 166.04 18.58
Class II … … 61.64 6.78
Class III … … 274.62 52.60

Information is not available regarding the value of goods entered at specific rates of duty; the amounts of duty charged upon such goods were, however, as follows:

Amount of duty (£ Million)
Class I … … … 876.46
Class II … … … 0.25
Class III … … … 260.63

40. Mr. Holt

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give an estimate of the amount by which the £84 million import duties charged on imports into the United Kingdom during 1952 would have been reduced if there had been no duties chargeable on imports from the Commonwealth, and assuming the pattern and quantity of trade not to have been thereby altered.

Mr. P. Thomeycroit

Nearly all goods of Commonwealth origin are admitted into the United Kingdom free of protective duties. Of the figure of about £84 million, only about £60,000 represents duties charged on goods of Commonwealth origin.

Mr. Holt

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give an estimate of the amount by which the £84 million import duties charged on imports into the United Kingdom in 1952 would have been reduced if there had been no duties on imports from the Commonwealth, and duties on imports from the rest of the world had been reduced to a level which was only sufficient to provide for the appropriate Imperial Preference, and assuming the pattern and quantity of trade not to have been thereby altered.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

If the hon. Member has in mind the preservation of the existing margins of preference, I am advised that the figure of about £84 million would have been reduced by less than £4 million.