§ Mr. Snapeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions Her Majesty's Government are having about the extent to which the Channel tunnel international passenger train service operated from 1993 should conform to European Economic Community customs and immigration formalities and about how this is to be achieved.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987, c. 576]: None. Her Majesty's Government fully recognise that all customs and immigration formalities, including those for the Channel tunnel international train services to be operated from 1993, should conform to the requirements of relevant EC legislation in force al that time. In discussing any proposal for such legislation Her Majesty's Government will take full account of the special characteristics of the Channel tunnel services.
§ Mr. Snapeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what consideration his Department is giving to European Economic Community directives and proposals relevant to possible changes in customs and immigration formalities by the beginning of 1993; and what assessment he has made of their implications;
(2) what changes the European Commission has proposed for customs and immigration formalities for general passenger travel between European Economic Community member states, and between European Economic Community member states and other countries, by the beginning of 1993; and what changes at railway crossing points are implied in these proposals.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987, c. 576]: There is a draft frontier controls directive under discussion which, if adopted, would provide for selective rather than comprehensive checks on Community nationals at land frontiers including at railway crossing points. It would expire in 1990. There are further proposals, also under discussion, for the introduction of common border posts for customs purposes at internal Community frontiers.
More generally the Commission has indicated in its document "completing the internal market" that it wishes to arrive at a stage whereby checks on entry are abolished 703W for Community citizens arriving from another Community country by 1992. Any proposal to that effect would be adopted only by unanimity.
It is not yet possible to make any realistic assessment of the implication of the above proposals which, for example, may be subject to changes arising from the discussions and negotiations.
No proposals for changes for passengers travelling between EC member states and other countries have been made.
§ Mr. Snapeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any customs and immigration checks for railway passengers travelling between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Eire are carried out on board moving trains; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987, c. 576]: No customs or immigration checks on railway passengers are carried out on board moving trains between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. Snapeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what information he has as to which railway crossing points within the European Economic Community require customs or immigration formalities;
(2) what information he has as to which crossing points within the European Economic Community require customs or immigration formalities and, of these, which offer such formalities on board moving trains or trains on board ferries, and which offer such formalities on board long-distance passenger trains where customs or immigration staff undertake their work beyond stations adjacent to the member states border.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987, c. 576]: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.