Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act 1931 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to make provision for the imposition of duties of Customs on articles wholly or mainly manufactured which are being imported into the United Kingdom in abnormal quantities, and for purposes connected therewith. |
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| Citation | 22 & 23 Geo. 5. c. 1 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 20 November 1931 |
The Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act 1931 was an important Act (a law) passed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 1931. This law gave the government special powers during a tough economic time. It allowed them to quickly add extra taxes, called customs duties, on certain goods coming into the country.
Contents
What Was the Abnormal Importations Act?
This Act was a temporary law created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Parliament is the main law-making body in the UK. The law's full name tells us its purpose: it was about "abnormal importations" (too many goods coming in) and "customs duties" (taxes on imports).
Why Was This Act Needed?
In the early 1930s, the world was going through a very difficult period known as the Great Depression. Many countries faced serious economic problems. There was high unemployment and businesses struggled. The UK government was worried that too many foreign goods were being imported. They feared this would harm British industries and jobs.
The government believed that by making imported goods more expensive, people would buy more products made in the UK. This would help local businesses and keep people employed.
How Did the Act Work?
The Act gave power to the Board of Trade. This was a government department that looked after trade and industry. With the agreement of HM Treasury (the government's finance department), the Board of Trade could put special taxes on imported goods.
- Targeted Goods: These taxes were only for goods that were "wholly or mainly manufactured." This meant finished products, not raw materials.
- Abnormal Quantities: The taxes were applied if these goods were coming into the UK in "abnormal quantities." This meant unusually large amounts.
- High Taxes: The taxes could be as high as 100% ad valorem. This means the tax could be equal to the value of the goods themselves. So, if a product was worth £10, the tax could add another £10, making it £20 for the buyer.
Parliament's Role
Even though the Board of Trade could act quickly, Parliament still had control. Any order to impose these duties had to be shown to the House of Commons right away. The House of Commons is where elected Members of Parliament (MPs) debate and vote on laws.
Each order would automatically end after 28 days. For it to continue, the House of Commons had to vote to extend it. This ensured that the government couldn't use these powers forever without Parliament's approval.
Its Short Life
The Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act 1931 was designed to be a temporary measure. It was given a lifespan of only six months. After this period, the government decided not to extend it.
This Act was an early step in the UK's move towards protectionism during the Great Depression. Protectionism is when a country tries to protect its own industries by taxing or limiting foreign goods. It was soon followed by a more general law called the Import Duties Act 1932, which introduced wider taxes on imports.
