§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the verdict of the European Court on the duty liability of John and Celia Smith of Grimsby on prawns imported from the Faroe Islands with valid EUR 1 certificates, if he proposes to apply to the European Commission for a waiver on the duty. [7684]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe European Court of Justice has referred this matter back to the United Kingdom High Court for a decision as to duty liability. The judgment specifically stated that it is now for the national court to determine whether the conditions for waiver are met. It is the High Court which will decide this case, not the European Commission.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of retrospective duty was levied on German and Danish importers of prawns subsequently imported with valid EUR 1 certificates from Iceland and the Faroe Islands; and how many importers were affected. [7682]
§ Mr. OppenheimWe have no information on amounts of duty demanded retrospectively in Germany and Denmark, or on the number of importers affected. However UK customs is aware that demands have been 209W issued in both countries and, as in the United Kingdom, appeals are working their way through the respectively legal systems.