§ 8. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the highest sum payable for a visa on a European passport and what is the amount of the lowest?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe highest fee charged for British visas to the nationals of any European country is the fee of £2 charged to German citizens for a visa valid for six months. This is a retaliatory charge imposed as the equivalent of the Gorman fee for similar visas to British subjects. The lowest fees are the equivalents of 10 gold francs for ordinary visas, and I gold franc for transit visas which, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Conference held in Paris in October, 1920, are charged to the nationals of all countries except those against which retaliatory charges are in force.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs it not a fact that a good many Continental nations look upon the money obtained by visas as a financial transaction to benefit themselves, instead of it being to keep out undesirable travellers?
§ Mr. McNEILLI have no idea whether that is so or not.
§ Mr. SHINWELLWould it not be very much better for people in this country who want to go abroad to go to places within the Empire?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINHear, hear!