§ 5. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to enable him to control the 998 prices charged in duty-free shops at airports and on ships.
§ Mr. CroninAre not very large profits being made by these organisations—for example, 140 per cent. being considered a normal profit on a bottle of Scotch whisky at duty-free shops? Is it not time that the travelling public were excluded from this scandalous profiteering?
§ Mr. EmeryThe Monopolies Commission's report on the supply of these goods in cross-Channel ferries is awaited. I should want further evidence beyond that produced by the hon. Gentleman about the level of profiteering, and if he has any facts I shall be only too pleased to receive them.
§ Mrs. KnightIs my hon. Friend aware that some duty-free shops, notably one at Hamburg airport, tell travellers that they are permitted to bring in more duty-free goods than the entitlement actually allows and that many people, believing what the shops say, enter the country with goods on which they subsequently have to pay duty?
§ Mr. EmeryI thank my hon. Friend for the question but she will realise that I have no control over what happens in Hamburg. Perhaps the Press will draw this practice to the attention of travellers.
§ Mr. MasonIs the Minister aware that the EEC Commission is programming to abolish duty-free goods and the duty-free shops at airports and on ships? What is the Government's attitude towards that?