§ 49. Captain BRASSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the inconvenience and delay caused to passengers travelling from Paris to London by the Dieppe-Newhaven route through the London train being held up unnecessarily long at Newhaven by the action of the Customs officials of that port forcing each passenger to open every single package he or she may possess, these packages being frequently closed again without examination; and, in view of this fact, whether he can see his way to issue instructions for a more efficient and less prolonged examination of passengers' luggage take place at this port, so that travellers may have their luggage examined there without undue delay, as is the practice at the other cross-Channel ports of Dover, Folkestone and Southampton?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am informed that the Customs procedure at Newhaven is the same as at the other ports mentioned in the question. It is not the case at Newhaven or elsewhere that passengers generally are required to open all their packages for examination.
§ Captain BRASSWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries to find out how often the train from Newhaven to London is late when the boat arrives punctually at Newhaven?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI anticipated some such question as that, and I am informed that no complaint at all has been made. It is quite true, I understand, that occasionally all packages of passengers are searched, but only when they have reason to suspect that there has been smuggling.