HC Deb 05 July 1984 vol 63 cc294-5W
Mr. Howard

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the further talks held by his Department with the French Government about no-passport excursions to France.

Mr. Whitney

As hon. Members will be aware, the French Government gave formal notice of termination of the 1971 Anglo/French memorandum of understanding on no-passport excursions to take effect on 8 July. Following discussions with the French Government on 22 and 29 June, we have reached agreement that the existing arrangement will continue in operation until 31 July, after which it is intended that new arrangements will be brought into effect.

Under the new arrangement British citizens will be able to travel to France on excursion documents issued by the Post Office on personal application. The documents will be valid for one month and permit excursionists to make one or mor trips to France, each of which will be no longer than 60 hours. Applicants will be required to make a declaration of British citizenship. They will also be required to produce supporting documentary evidence, such as a birth certificate, National Health Service card or national insurance pension book. The applicant's photograph must be certified by a responsible British citizen who has known the applicant for at least two years and who will also be required to countersign the document. A fee of a little over £2 will be charged.

In our exchanges with the French Government we have consistently sought their agreement to a new system which took account of their concerns but retained as many as possible of the beneficial features of the present arrangements. The scheme which the French Government have now accepted has been developed in close consultation with the General Council of British Shipping, representatives of the main British cross-Channel operators, the Post Office and other interested parties in the United Kingdom. Taking account of the earlier negotiations, we are satisfied that it represents the best deal available.

I am arranging for copies of the inter-governmental exchanges of letters and the memorandum of understanding to be placed in the Library.