asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to simplify the forms used in the importation of goods; if all the 59 questions used on Her Majesty's Customs and Excise form, C10 (1977), are necessary; and why five copies of this form have to be made.
Forms used in the importation of goods are reviewed frequently to ensure that the information demanded is still necessary and new demands are critically appraised. Customs and Excise form C.10 (1977) replaced 12 different earlier forms and in itself represented a simplification.The 59 boxes are designed to cater for many types of transaction and, for most importations, many of them need no answer. Guidance is given in Customs Notice No. 465 (October 1977). Such information as is required is necessary for administration and accounting purposes and for the compilation of international trade statistics.Five copies, or, sometimes, three or four, are required for different processes carried out in separate geographical locations. The form has carbon interleaves to simplify copying.