§ 65. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the six British children who were refused passports to go to Russia to study Soviet methods have now left London for Petrograd on a Soviet-owned steamship; whether the emigration officer consented to their departure; and what steps the Home Office proposes to take to prevent such occurrences in the future?
§ Captain HACKINGI am informed that the children in question sailed in the Soviet s.s. "Youshar" on Tuesday evening. The law places no restriction upon persons leaving this country and therefore neither the Home Secretary nor his officers had any power to intervene and no consent was required. Passports were refused to those who did not already possess them because the Government were not prepared to facilitate their journey.
§ Sir W. DAVISONHaving regard to the large powers which the State possesses to protect children's bodies from contamination does not my right hon. Friend think it desirable that their minds should also be protected from contamination?