§ 6. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will have paragraph (h), form 9, of the passport regulations altered so that officers of the Navy and Army applying for passports may have their declaration verified by their commanding officers or other naval or military officer instead of having to apply to a minister of religion, a doctor, or solicitor for verification?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThere is no objection to the suggestion made by the hon. and gallant Member, and the next issue of application forms will be amended accordingly. In practice the verification of a commanding officer is frequently accepted.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIf peace is signed may we expect the early abolition of these passports in connection—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.
§ 7. Colonel GRETTONasked the Under secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been directed to the refusal of the United States authorities in many instances to visé passports issued to eligible and respectable British subjects to travel to the United States of America; can he state the reasons for such refusal; and what steps have been taken to secure the usual freedom of entry into the United States for respectable and peaceable British subjects who travel under the British flag?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI have been in communication with the United States authorities on the subject of the restrictions on the grant of the visa to British subjects for travelling to the United States? and I understand that some relaxation may now be expected. The restrictions, which are of a temporary nature, have been chiefly due to the serious shortage of shipping accommodation and to the importance of giving priority to cases of repatriation.