HC Deb 20 February 1978 vol 944 cc518-9W
Mr. Thompson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is (a) the minimum, (b) the average and (c) the maximum length of delay imposed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on railway wagons examined in Portadown and Belfast.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

Precise figures are not available but, provided that the documents presented to Customs are properly completed, clearance of railway wagons at Portadown and Belfast can take as little as 30 minutes. In general the clearance time is about six hours. The formalities are invariably completed within 24 hours of the lodging of the correct documents.