§ Mr. Andersonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now able to give the outcome of the review of the system 271W of customs charges for official attendance.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonYes. It has been concluded that it would not be justifiable at the present time to incur the additional public expenditure which would be involved in any extension of the hours during which attendance is given free. Government fees and charges are set generally at a level which recovers full costs and no more, and there is no reason why this policy should not be followed with these charges. The review shows that the present rates of charge for out-of-hours attendance are well below full cost level and have been so for some years. The charges will, therefore, be increased to a full cost level on 1st January 1977, and to limit the size of subsequent increases will be re-assessed at six-monthly intervals. The 1st January 1977 charges will be banded in two rates instead of a series of different rates according to the grade of official required to attend, the upper band being £4.70 and the lower £3 per hour.