§ 61. Mr. Barberasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated financial benefit to the recipients of the export rebate.
§ Mr. MacDermotThe estimated total payment of export rebate in the current financial year was given in Table 4 of the Financial Statement as £95 million. This amount included certain payments relating to exports in an earlier period and is equivalent to an annual rate of £84 million.
§ 62. Mrs. Shirley Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is 84W aware that certain exporting firms are receiving no benefit from the export rebate, because it is being absorbed by shippers; and if he will ensure that the main part of the rebate is paid to the exporters, whom it was intended to compensate for the surcharge payable on some imported materials.
§ Mr. MacDermotI refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer I gave on 2nd March, in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Patrick Jenkin). The export rebate scheme is not intended to compensate exporters for the import charge: repayment of the surcharge for exports is a separate matter.