§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take the legislative steps necessary to allow duty-free sales to Eurostar passengers at(a) Waterloo station, (b) Ashford station and (c) on board trains; and if he will make a statement. [11518]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 23 January 1996]No. International convention precludes the sale of duty-free goods on international rail journeys both on trains and at stations. The United Kingdom, and our European Union partners, have accepted recommendations of the Customs Co-operation Council to that effect. There are, for example, no duty-free sales for trains travelling between Dublin and Belfast, or between Paris and Bonn.