§ 52. Mr. M. Lindsayasked the Secretary to the Treasury why only four Customs officials were available for 1,300 passengers returning from the Continent on the train which reached Victoria Station at 14.30 hours on 12th January. 1958.
§ Mr. SimonTwo trains arrived at about that time carrying 1,048 passengers all of whom, with their baggage, had already been cleared through the Customs at Folkestone. There were six Customs officers on duty at Victoria, but they were concerned only with unaccompanied baggage which some passengers had registered through to Victoria.
§ Mr. LindsayIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that it is quite a common practice to register baggage through and that, according to my information, the last groups of these travellers spent more than an hour and a quarter before passing through the Customs? Could not better arrangements be made, because this has a very unfortunate effect on foreign visitors?
§ Mr. SimonThe information I have been given is that nearly all the baggage was cleared through the Customs within half an hour of its being unloaded from the train. I entirely agree with the implication of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, but, of course, the amount of Customs facilities which can be deployed at any one point must depend on such factors as the cost of making the officers available. It would be unjustifiable to have more than are required to cope with the anticipated baggage.
Mr. E. L. MallalieIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that Customs are barbarous institutions which ought to be abolished?