§ 8. Mr. JOELasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is 1888 to be any revision in the Palestine immigration rules applying to deposits that have to be made by prospective tourists to Palestine arriving other than by first class; whether there is to be any diminution in the £60 deposit; and whether there is now any information available as to the extent to which the tourist industry of Palestine has been adversely affected by this regulation?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe rule requiring deposits from prospective travellers to Palestine now applies to travellers by all classes. It is not proposed to make any change in the amount of the deposit, namely, £60, but consular and passport control officers have been given discretion to exempt persons who they are satisfied are genuine tourists or pilgrims, or who are in possession of £1,000 capital. In April last the High Commissioner for Palestine reported that the imposition of this requirement had not affected the tourist movement to Palestine and that in fact the country had this year enjoyed its most successful tourist season for a number of years. I have no reason to suppose that there has been any change in the situation.