§ Mr. Knox Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made on the simplification of frontier formalities; and whether he will make a statement with regard to Recommendation 165, passed by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 3rd May, 1958.
Commander NobleMajor progress in simplifying frontier formalities has been made since the war and Her Majesty's Government keep the possibility of further simplification continually under review. The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation Tourism Committee, the Council of Europe, the Economic Commission for Europe, and other European and international organisations, all give much attention to this subject.
Council of Europe Recommendation 165 is in two parts. The first concerns 85W only those member countries of the Council of Europe who subscribe to the "European Agreement on Regulations Governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe". This Agreement can only be of assistance to those countries who unlike the United Kingdom issue identity cards. On this point I would refer to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Morpeth on the 20th of December, 1957.
The second part of the Recommendation calls for consideration of the possibility of standardising national motor vehicle registration papers and of abolishing Customs documents for coaches and lorries. Her Majesty's Government do not at present see advantage in dispensing with the established system of internationally agreed Customs documentation for motor vehicles temporarily imported into the United Kingdom. But they will watch developments with interest and in particular are willing to consider any proposals on this subject which may be put forward, provided that they do not jeopardise our fiscal and vehicle identification requirements.