§ Mr. Jannerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the British Trade Commission in Montreal, Canada, to give full and clear details to prospective travellers to this country regarding the regulations governing the importation of personal effects for the use in this country of the visitor, and so avoid misunderstanding, such as occurred in the case sent to him by the hon. Member for West Leicester.
§ Mr. Marquand:I have been asked to reply. The duties of His Majesty's trade commissioners do not normally include giving advice to intending travellers regarding Customs and Excise regulations governing the importation of visitors' personal effects for their use in this country. I am, however, sending to all trade commissioner posts copies of a memorandum giving the latest details of the regulations, although I would point out that there is no reason to think that all persons travelling to the United Kingdom will approach trade commissioners for information on this subject.
Meanwhile, I am causing inquiries to be made from His Majesty's Trade Commissioner at Montreal regarding the case to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention. From information already in my possession, it appears that the bulk of the traveller's luggage was admitted free of duty under the concession applying to used personal effects. Duties and Purchase Tax were only levied on the consumable stores and certain other articles which were obviously new and which were, therefore, clearly outside this category.