§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of goods that may currently be imported 307W into the United Kingdom duty free from both EEC, and non-EEC countries, respectively; and if he will now review these values and the differentials between them to take account of the current rate of inflation.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe duty-free allowance for "other goods"—that is, for goods other than tobacco products, alcoholic drinks, perfume and toilet water—which a passenger has obtained duty and tax paid in an EEC country is £50. For goods obtained duty and tax free in the EEC or obtained, whether duty and tax free or not, outside the EEC the limit is £10.
These limits are in accordance with our EEC obligations and the United King
1970 1976 Australia … … … 676 dollars (310) 4,697 dollars (3,200) Austria … … … 42,190 schillings (680) 92,760 schillings (2,850) Belgium … … … 84,080 francs (710) 137,040 francs (1,960) Canada … … … 2,738 dollars (1,090) 6,691 dollars (3,710) Denmark … … … 11,500 kroner (640) 23,600 kroner (2,170) Finland … … … 6,800 finmark (680) 27,500 finmark (3,990) France … … … 13,380 francs (1,010) 30,410 francs (3,520) Germany … … … 9,370 deutschmarks (1,070) 9,090 deutschmarks (2,000) Greece … … … 55,285 drachma (770) 112,900 drachma (1,710) Iceland … … … Insufficient information available Ireland … … … –940 £1,540 Italy … … … 300,000 lira (200) 2,040,000 lira (1,360) Japan … … … 600,000 yen (950) 2,108,000 yen (3,950) Japan (local) … … … 400,000 yen (640) 1,500,000 yen (2,810) Luxembourg … … … 126,530 francs (1,060) 297,600 francs (3,970) Netherlands … … … 10,000 florins (1,150) 12,125 florins (2,540) New Zealand … … … 820 dollars (380) 1,587 dollars (890) Norway … … … 29,400 kroner (1,730) 35,600 kroner (3,720) Norway (local) … … … 9,000 kroner (530) 11,110 kroner (1,130) Portugal … … … 30,000 escudos (430) 50,000 escudos (920) Spain … … … 108,700 pesetas (650) 112,740 pesetas (935) Sweden … … … 9,600 kroner (770) 28,750 kroner (4,370) Sweden (local) … … … 5,000 kroner (400) 11,625 kroner (1,480) Switzerland … … … 13,685 francs (1,330) 15,430 francs (3,430) Switzerland (local) … … … 7,370 francs (720) 10,105 francs (2,250) Turkey … … … 4,780 lira (170) 4,780 lira (160) United Kingdom … … … –695 –1,685 United States of America … … … 3,600 dollars (1,500) 6,850 dollars (3,810) Notes:
(i) The sterling equivalent is shown in brackets. Exchange rates used for conversion are the average rates for the calendar years 1970 and 1976 as appropriate.
(ii) The figures relate to the employment income of a married man with two children under 11: the whole of the income is assumed to be the husband's.
(iii) Where the starting point for local income tax, if appropriate, is significantly lower than for national income tax, the local income tax threshold is shown. For Switzerland, the local income tax threshold is that applicable for Zurich: for Sweden the average local income tax thresholds are given. In other countries the local income tax threshold is the same in all regions.
(iv) The figures shown relate to gross employment income: account has been taken of personal and other universal reliefs—for example, minimum expenses deductions, employment income reliefs—and social security contributions (where deductible for tax purposes).
§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Chancellor of the Excheqeuer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the United Kingdom the percentage of
308Wdom cannot vary them unilaterally. Proposals to increase the allowances are before the Commission in Brussels but no decisions have yet been taken there.