§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Transport the regulations concerning British visitors to France with a motorcar, especially with regard to the deposit 447W required in lieu of customs, and any recent alterations in the amount of the deposit or the regulations?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONUnder the International Convention of 1909 a British visitor to France can obtain an International Travelling Pass in respect of his motor car. This document gives the visitor the right to display British number plates on his car in lieu of French number plates, and also serves as a licence to drive. The detailed Regulations are contained in Part I of the Motor Car (International Circulation) Order, 1910. British visitors on entering France with a motor vehicle have also to obtain a "Laissez-Passer," the maximum validity of which is 60 days. The charge for this document is 10 francs a day, plus 3 francs 60 centimes stamp duty. British visitors who are not members of the Royal Automobile Club or the Automobile Association must on entering France deposit an import duty amounting to 45 per cent. of the value of the car, plus luxury tax; making in all a deposit approximately equivalent to 60 per cent. of the value of the car. This deposit can be recovered if the vehicle is exported within 12 months. The motor associations referred to guarantee the payment of import duty in the event of the vehicle not being exported from France within the 12 months, and arrangement" have been made for their members to obtain a triptyque or a "Carnet de Passages en Douanes," the production of which relieves the visitor of the necessity of depositing the import duty. I am not aware of any recent material alteration in the Regulations.