Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 30 October 1947.
Sir Walter Fletcher
, Bury
12:00,
30 October 1947
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what instructions are issued to Customs and Excise officials at ports in this country as to the value of personal articles of jewellery and apparel that those leaving this country on temporary travel permits can take with them; what steps are taken to ensure that the House of Commons and the public were made aware of these regulations; and under what authority Customs and Excise officials demand the surrender of such articles where satisfactory assurances that they will be re-imported are given.
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
As regards the first and third parts of the Question, the present instructions give the officers a wide measure of latitude to allow personal articles to be taken abroad if they are satisfied that they will be brought back again. As regards the second part, the prohibition rests upon Export of Goods (Control) Orders made by the Board of Trade under the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act, 1939.
Sir Walter Fletcher
, Bury
Would not the very desirable objective of seeing that unnecessary amounts do not go out of this country be achieved if the public were aware beforehand of the sort of figures involved?
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
It is very difficult, because if in any given circumstances an announcement were made of what a person would be allowed to take, that would become the rule. We have given the Customs officials some latitude in the matter.
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Bristol West
Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries to see whether in fact this discretion is being exercised at all? I can give him cases which tend to show that Customs officers are operating a very low and very rigid monetary value, and without any discretion as to the likelihood of sale at all.
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
If the right hon. Gentleman will let us have any case he has in mind, I will be pleased to go into it.
Sir Walter Fletcher
, Bury
Should not the sole idea be that people should know, and it should not be in the hands of junior officials to decide for themselves difficult and delicate questions of this sort?
Mr Victor Collins
, Taunton
Is my right hon. Friend aware that the instructions issued by the Board of Trade to intending travellers are very detailed, and leave very little room for any misunderstanding?
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
