§ Mr. Adleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that duty-free facilities are made available to rail passengers utilising the Channel tunnel, commensurate with those available to cross-Channel passengers using alternative modes of transport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1987, c. 290]: It is the Government's intention, so far as international obligations allow, to provide that travellers through the Channel tunnel will enjoy such duty-free facilities as are available to persons travelling by sea or air.
It is not currently the practice within the Community to permit the sale of duty-free goods on board trains. Most member states have acceded to an agreed international standard which does not provide for such a facility. Duty-free sales could be allowed only with the agreement of the other member states concerned. This particular matter is being kept under review during discussions about the customs arrangements for the tunnel.
It is expected that there will be duty-free shop facilities at the French and British terminals for the shuttle trains, ie at Frethun and Cheriton.