§ 44. Mr. Nabarroasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that British participation in the Outer Seven arrangements will create an invidious distinction in the matter of foreign travel allowance granted to British nationals, in that £100 maximum per annum is imposed for all countries oversea except Sweden, Norway and Denmark, where an additional £250 is granted; and, as an overture to all participating members of the Outer Seven arrangements, whether he will now increase the £100 foreign travel allowance to £250, so that all British travellers to all Outer Seven countries may have a maximum equal to the present Scandinavian £250 maximum; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NabarroWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that a thoroughly invidious position would arise if the British foreign travel allowance for the three Scandinavian members of the Outer Seven were two and a half times the maximum rate applicable to the other three, namely, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal? Is it not desirable at an early date to make these arrangements uniform and non-discriminatory in character?
Mr. AmoryI am conscious of the point which my hon. Friend has made, but I would remind him that the Free Trade Association has not yet come into existence. As to travel allowances, relaxation will be made just as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. BellengerNevertheless, would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if this arrangement is completely sucessful it will approximate to the sterling area arrangements and that therefore he should do as the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) has suggested and give travellers from this country facilities which they enjoy now in the sterling area?