§ 2. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give instructions to have printed on all forms of application for British passports a statement to the effect that upon the renewal of a passport any British Consul is empowered to sign the requisite form without possessing personal knowledge of the applicant?
§ Mr. McCURDY (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)I have been asked to reply, owing to the indisposition of my hon. Friend (Mr. Cecil Harms-worth).
His Majesty's Consular Officers are not required to possess personal knowledge of persons who apply to them for the issue or renewal of passports, and under the general instructions they are empowered, at their discretion, to dispense with the usual personal recommendation where an existing passport is presented for renewal and the holder is unable to obtain the signature of a British subject to the form of application. I have not heard of any difficulty being experienced by British subjects who have required the renewal of their passports whilst temporarily abroad, and I see no reason for amending the form of application or amplifying the instructions given to His Majesty's Consular Officers in this matter.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINAs it is in operation and is known to the Consuls, would it not be just as well that the members of the travelling public should know, as those members of the public have on frequent occasions experienced great difficulty in the matter?
§ Mr. McCURDYI will convey that suggestion to my hon. Friend.