HL Deb 02 November 1994 vol 558 cc64-5WA
Lord Campbell of Croy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether British cross-Channel vessels are still required to pay a French tax, based on numbers of passengers, originally levied to help repair war damage to French ports; and if so, what are the current rates.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)

The tax was originally imposed to help cover French seafarers' social security charges, but more recently 75 per cent. of the tax has gone towards port infrastructure improvements and the remainder to the French Exchequer.

We understand that the current rates of tax imposed by France on all ferry operators in respect of all ferry passengers using French Channel ports are:-

  • —17.96 French Francs (FF) for journeys within the EU;
  • —FF 76.68 for journeys elsewhere.