Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 10 Tachwedd 1964.
Mr Patrick Wolrige-Gordon
, Aberdeenshire East
12:00,
10 Tachwedd 1964
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he will now restrict imports of non-essential luxuries and semi-luxuries, rather than restricting essential industrial imports for further manufacturing purposes.
Mr Niall MacDermot
, Derby North
In general, these imports are subject to the import charge
Mr Patrick Wolrige-Gordon
, Aberdeenshire East
Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that certain commodities essential for our manufacturing industries, and thence for exports, are not available in this country? Is it not inequitable that such commodities should be exposed to the same kind of restrictions on imports as are luxury and semi-luxury goods? Will he take steps as quickly as possible to remove this imposed barrier on our export performance?
Mr Niall MacDermot
, Derby North
One of the purposes of the temporary charge is to encourage the manufacture at home of articles which at the moment are only available from abroad. The effect of the import cuts at the moment is spread evenly. If we had exempted all imports used by industry, the range of imports subject to the charge would have been reduced by about two-thirds, which would have put a quite unfair burden on the rest.
Mr Reginald Maudling
, Barnet
Would it be right to draw the conclusion that it is not the intention to place the surcharge on anything that cannot be made in this country?
Mr Niall MacDermot
, Derby North
No. That would be quite wrong.
Mr Cyril Osborne
, Louth Borough
If import charges are only temporary, how can they do any good to the economy?
Mr Niall MacDermot
, Derby North
The hon. Gentleman will realise that we can impose charges of this kind only on a temporary basis. We believe that the country will respond to the opportunity provided by it.
Mr Anthony Fell
, Yarmouth
The hon. and learned Gentleman said that these charges were spread evenly over all imports, but, of course, this is not so in the case of paper. The duty is imposed on imported paper but not on imported pulp for making paper. This is causing the greatest anomalies among firms using either paper or pulp. Those using paper have to pay the surcharge while those using pulp do not.
Mr Niall MacDermot
, Derby North
The Question on the Order Paper was not directed to raw materials. Pulp is, of course, included in the surcharge as a raw material.
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