HC Deb 28 April 1986 vol 96 cc325-6W
Mr. Steel

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the circumstances of references made on customs sheets on imports to certain amounts of wool products being noted as imported from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lawson

It is quite normal for wool products produced in, and exported from, the United Kingdom to be subsequently reimported into the United Kingdom. For example, reimportation may occur where the goods were found to be surplus to requirements or not up to specification. Because there was some suggestion that the level of reimports of wool products is higher than might be expected, Customs and Excise has made a detailed examination of a number of documents relating particularly to imports of large consignments of wool products in 1985 where the country of origin was declared as the United Kingdom. In no case were any grounds found for doubting the declared country of origin.