§ Lord Evans of Claughtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of their scrutiny of the burdens imposed on businesses by official requirements, they are now willing to reconsider their refusal on previous occasions to align all accounting periods and payment dates for both Customs and Excise Duties, to reduce the burden of administration imposed in particular on bonded warehouse keepers.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie)Once the recent change affecting VAT on imports and ex-warehouse goods has been operating for several months, a review will be undertaken of all the duty deferment procedures. This review will include an examination of whether there is a need for changes in the accounting periods and payment dates, and the effects of possible changes on the money market. The review will take into account the views of the trade.