§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will order an investigation and take steps to expedite the Customs and Excise examination of container 200582 now at Tilbury docks since 5th June containing imported covers, in view of the fact that an import licence was granted last week and that 30 people at Rinco Limited of Worksop will be laid off if the goods are not immediately forthcoming.
§ Mr. HigginsWhen the covers arrived on 5th June, Rinco Limited had not applied for an import licence and did not do so until 11th June; it was issued on 17th June. The entry and licence were delivered to Customs on the afternoon of Friday, 18th June; the entry was passed by Customs on Monday, 21st 147W June. The goods were presented for examination at 4 p.m. on 24th June and cleared four hours later. I am satisfied that the Customs is not responsible for the delay between the time of importation and delivery of the covers to the factory.