§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the maximum limit for baggage allowance under the Government's repatriation scheme was introduced; what level applied at the time of inception of that limit; what would be the level today if the allowance had risen in line with the rate of inflation; and if he will give the difference between the inflation-linked figure and the actual current allowance for (a) zone A and (b) zone B.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe present system of baggage allowances under the repatriation scheme operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 was introduced by International Social Service of Great Britain in October 1978. The following table shows, in the first column, the actual maximum allowance at that time; in the second column, those allowances adjusted in accordance with the increase in the retail prices index between October 1978 and January 1983; and, in the third column, the current maximum allowance.
315W
October 1978 Maximum allowance £ per person October 1978 Maximum allowance adjusted for effect of increase in RPI Current maximum allowance Zone B Persons aged 16 and over 150 243 250 Persons under 16 100 162 125