HC Deb 22 November 1955 vol 546 cc109-11W
106. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that certain countries, such as Italy and France, unlike other host nations, charge discriminatory duty on materials supplied under contracts awarded by host nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, to the benefit of their own manufacturers but to the detriment of the contributory host nations, of which Britain is one; and what representations he has made to ensure that such materials shall not be liable for duty as they are for joint defence.

it was sold; and the average free on board price obtained in each case.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

The following is the information:

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Contracts for Infrastructure work, financed in common by N.A.T.O. are placed by the Governments of the countries in which the work is to be carried out, and the conditions normally applicable to Government contracts in those countries apply. These conditions require compliance with local legislation, including that imposing import duties. Such duties cannot properly be described as discriminatory. If Her Majesty's Government were in a similar situation, the normal protective tariffs would apply to materials imported into this country by a foreign contractor carrying out a N.A.T.O. Infrastructure project.

Her Majesty's Government have represented to the North Atlantic Council that any import duty element in Infrastructure contracts should be excluded from the costs to which other N.A.T.O. countries make their contributions. The Council now has this matter under consideration.