§ 13. Dr. Littleasked the Home Secretary whether in the case of ministers of religion in Britain taking duty in Northern Ireland or vice versa, he will lower the period of three months' duty for the granting of a. travel permit to one month to facilitate the exchange of ministers within the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIt is necessary to limit travel between Great Britain and Ireland as far as possible, and I regret that I should not feel justified in authorising the grant of travel permits to enable clergymen to travel to either country for the purpose of taking up appointments for periods of less than three months.
§ Dr. LittleDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that a free exchange of ministers of religion between Great Britain and Northern Ireland would encourage people and help the war effort?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am not quite sure about it. Frankly, I do not think this is one of the most pressing claims for a concession on this particular restriction.
§ 17. Dr. Littleasked the Home Secretary whether, in order to obviate cases of hardship and to allow for a period of needed recuperation for teachers and students, he will make arrangements whereby all Northern Ireland teachers and students in Britain will receive travel permits to enable them to spend their summer holidays at home with their friends in Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. MorrisonIf for security purposes there is to be control over this traffic, there must be a limit on the number of journeys which individuals are allowed to make; and the fact that a particular class of persons may get several holidays in a year is not a ground on which I should be justified in granting them permits for extra journeys beyond those allowed under the general rules.
§ Dr. LittleDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that it would be in the interests of education in Great Britain and in the interests of the health of these persons if they were allowed to spend the long summer holidays at home instead of paying for lodgings when they ought to be at home?
§ Professor SavoryDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that these devoted teachers have come over to this country in order to enable you to keep your schools open and carry on your educational system? Does not that demand kindly consideration and even indulgence?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am not sufficiently confident about the motives of the teachers to be able to judge of that matter. I am very sorry about the inconvenience this must cause, but there is a war on, and there must be restrictions on travel. I am afraid I cannot make any concession at this time.