HC Deb 10 February 1948 vol 447 cc216-7
57. Mr. Hardy

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the enforcement of the prohibition on the import and export of currency notes is causing much resentment to the public because they are unaware of the regulations on the subject; and whether he will give further publicity to the limits on taking notes out of the country.

Sir S. Cripps

Yes, Sir. The Exchange position does not admit of any laxity in these matters. I have arranged for banks and travel agencies to issue to every traveller a warning notice stating plainly that not more than £5 in sterling notes and £10 in foreign currency may be taken abroad, except to Eire and the Channel Islands. Travellers should not imagine that they can leave surplus notes with Immigration or Customs Officers who are charged with the duty of seizing and confiscating excesses. There will now be strict enforcement of the law on these matters, but I appeal to the good sense of the travelling public to co-operate with the port officials and not run the risk of loss by arriving at the port with more than the permitted amount. I take this opportunity to point out that the sterling notes which may be taken out by a traveller are allowed him for the purpose of meeting expenses on a sterling ship and immediate disbursements on return to this country. They may not otherwise be spent abroad. Similarly, I hope passengers arriving from abroad will mark well that the inward limit is £5 in sterling notes, for only in exceptional circumstances will any excess taken from the passenger he returned.

Mr. Boothby

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman really mean that if a traveller inadvertently put an extra £3 into his purse and then hands it to a Customs official for safe custody the official is to pinch it?

Sir S. Cripps

There is no facility for handing money to Customs officials for safe custody, nor have they power to hold it.