§ Mr. Henry Clarkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will alter the procedures for temporary importations of motor vehicles on the land frontier between the United Kingdom and Southern Ireland; and whether the 51W changes will affect hire cars and private cars driven by United Kingdom residents.
§ Mr. MacDermotRevised procedures for documentation of vehicles temporarily imported and exported have recently been announced and will operate from 1st April. So far as Ireland is concerned, the changes, which will affect hired cars, and private cars driven by residents of Great Britain, are as follows:—
- 1. Security (by bond, deposit, triptyque or carnet) will no longer be required for vehicles registered in the Republic of Ireland and temporarily imported into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland. New forms will replace the present documents and will be obtainable from Boundary Posts and Stations, major Customs offices in Northern Ireland, and motoring organisations in the Republic of Ireland shortly before 1st April.
- 2. No Customs temporary importation documents will be required from visitors (including residents of Great Britain) arriving in Northern Ireland whose vehicles are registered elsewhere than in the Republic of Ireland.
- 3. Residents of Great Britain not being residents of Northern Ireland will be allowed to import temporarily into Northern Ireland, without payment of Customs duty and purchase tax, vehicles hired in the Republic of Ireland. The period of temporary importation for each entitled person will be limited to one month, during which the vehicle may cross and re-cross the Land Boundary without restriction. The residents of Great Britain entitled to the concession are those who have spent not more than 90 days in the previous twelve months in Northern Ireland. The necessary document will be obtainable at the time of taking delivery of the hired vehicle.