§ 29. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that women wishing to go to America with the intention of getting married are refused passports, while the wives of Canadian officers are urged to return to Canada; and, if so, will he state what reasons guide his office in this policy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs in my reply of the I6th May, I am answering this question on behalf of the various Departments concerned. The general policy is that the travelling of women and children by sea is to be restricted to the utmost possible extent and not to be allowed except in cases of the greatest possible urgency in which refusal to grant passports would involve great hardship. It is the fact that the Canadian authorities issued a notice to wives and dependants of Canadian officers and other ranks not in tending permanently to reside in this country to consider the question of return to Canada. That has led to a number of requests for repatriation, and endeavour has been made to meet them. But the case of the woman who desires to go to America or any other part of the world to get married appears to be on a different footing, and is viewed along the lines of the general statement I made at the outset. These requests are only granted, as I have said, in the rare case in which refusal would involve real hardship. In such a case the request is referred to the Inter-Departmental Passport Committee to advise the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as to whether or not a passport should be issued.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not a real hardship not to allow them to cross?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe are anxious that they should not go to sea.
§ Mr. HOLTIs there any objection to these women and children crossing the sea except that of their personal safety?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly it is personal safety. It is bad enough for a man to be torpedoed. I should think it much worse for a woman and little children.
§ Mr. KINGWill not my right hon. Friend allow women to judge for them selves whether they will run the risk— surely they have the right and liberty to judge for themselves in the matter?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIn view of the fact that your franchise now places women and men on an equality, why should not women be on an equality with men in this matter of emigration?
§ Sir F. FLANNERYIs it not a fact that the presence of women on board in time of danger increases the difficulty?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI endeavoured to say that in reply to my hon. Friend. That is the case. In case of real hardship the matter is referred to the Departmental authority.