asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of the imports upon which a total of £10,234,000 customs duty was paid in the three months ended 30th June, 1953, the total quantity and value of the various articles or groups of articles imported upon which this duty was paid, and the amount of duty paid in respect of each class or group of such articles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Customs Duty.
The amount of £10,234,000 to which the Deputy refers does not represent customs receipts on imports in the quarter ended 30th June, 1953. This amount representsthe total of the payments into the Exchequer on account of customs revenue during the quarter ended 30th June, 1953, and includes the sum transferred in respect of the customs balance on hands on 31st March, 1953.
The approximate net receipts of customs duty in the quarter amounted to £9,301,817. This figure cannot, however, be taken as the receipt of customs duties in respect of goods imported in the quarter because by far the greater portion of customs revenue is derived from goods such as tobacco and spirits which are warehoused on importation, the duty being subsequently paid at the time they are delivered from warehouse for home use. For this reason the Deputy will understand that information as to the quantity and value of dutiable goods imported into the country in any period does not afford an indication of the quantity or value of the goods on which customs duty was paid in that period. The quantities (or values in the case of goods chargeable with ad valoremduty) on which duty was actually paid in the quarter ended 30th June, 1953, are not yet available.
As the portion of my reply which indicates how the customs receipts of £9,301,817 are made up is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
CUSTOMS DUTIES—APPROXIMATE NET RECEIPTS IN THE QUARTER ENDED 30 JUNE, 1953.
|
Head of Duty |
Approximate Net Receipts |
|
£ |
|
|
Tobacco |
6,040,363 |
|
Oil, Mineral Hydrocarbon Light |
1,703,668 |
|
Oil, Hydrocarbon, Other Sorts |
134,159 |
|
Spirits |
330,083 |
|
Motor cars, parts, etc. |
271,026 |
|
Clothing and Apparel |
132,726 |
|
Wine |
100,259 |
|
Beer |
30,338 |
|
Floor coverings |
28,359 |
|
Newspapers and Periodicals |
25,035 |
|
Package Duty |
18,918 |
|
Cinematograph Films |
17,995 |
|
Clocks and Watches |
17,008 |
|
Fruit, Tinned in Syrup |
13,482 |
|
Paper, Unprinted |
12,548 |
|
Sugar Confectionery |
12,152 |
|
Sugar, etc., Articles |
11,584 |
|
Toilet Preparations and Perfumery |
8,413 |
|
Fruit, Dried |
7,192 |
|
Other Heads of Duty |
386,509 |
|
TOTAL |
9,301,817 |
When may we expect the particulars the Minister refers to for the three months will be available?
As soon as possible. The Deputy must understand that there is a great deal of collation of figures involved in this matter and that it is a lengthy process.
I quite understand that when it is a question of imports, but we are now approaching the end of July.
Well, we are as yet only 14 days from the end of June.
The Minister will appreciate that I am asking for information up to the 31st March.
And that it is the invariable practice of the Minister to give Deputies all the information asked for if it is readily available.