§ Mr. Mawbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority Customs officers are increasing the valuation of imported goods above the imported price, thereby increasing the duty levied and the eventual cost to the consumer; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. HigginsThe value for duty purposes of imported goods is defined by Section 258 of and the Sixth Schedule to the Customs and Excise Act 1952 and is, briefly, the price they would fetch on a sale in the open market between a buyer and seller independent of each other, with the seller bearing all costs, charges and expenses incidental to the sale and the delivery of the goods to the buyer at the port or place of importation. This provision, which accords with an international convention, ensures fairness of treatment in the application of protective duties. When goods are imported at a price which is not a satisfactory measure of the statutory value that value can nevertheless often he expressed in terms of the actual price with an addition thereto.