To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to double the tax-free allowance for international travellers returning from trips outside the EU as described in the pre-Budget report in December 2006. (130466)

On 28 November 2006, European Finance Ministers agreed to raise the tax-free allowance for people returning from outside the EU by air and sea to €430 (£290). This doubles the current allowance for all UK travellers returning from third countries. The Government will lay the necessary order to bring the higher allowance into force at the earliest opportunity after parallel EU legislation to increase Customs Duty allowances is adopted. This is expected to be later this year.