asked the Minister for Finance if he will give particulars of the revenue from customs duties for the year 1962-63 in the form of a reply of 10th April, 1962, with the addition of details for any other heading yielding over £100,000.
Written Answers. - Revenue from Customs Duties.
64.
Since the introduction of the new form of customs tariff on 1st January, 1963, the accounts of the receipts from customs duties are kept under headings which are not directly comparable with those formerly in use. Accordingly, it will not be possible to give particulars of revenue from customs duties for the whole year 1962-63 under all the headings shown in the reply to Question No. 93 of 10th April, 1962: particulars under all of those headings will be available only, in respect of the nine months ended 31st December, 1962.
Special accounting arrangements have, however, been made to preserve continuity in the statistics under certain headings, viz.: Beer, Clothing and Apparel, Fruit, Motor Vehicles, Newspapers and Periodicals, Mineral Hydrocarbon Light Oil, Hydrocarbon Oil (other sorts), Package Duty, Spirits (Brandy, Geneva, Rum, other sorts), Tobacco, Wine and Parcel Post. Particulars of the receipts under these headings for the year ended 31st March, 1963, are not yet available. If the Deputy puts down a question after the Easter recess I expect then to be able to give particulars for the whole year 1962-63 in respect of these headings.
The receipts from all other customs duties for the period January to March, 1963, are accounted for under the headings in the new Tariff. Detailed figures in respect of receipts under these headings will not be available before 15th May, 1963.