11. Miss Rathboneasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that refusals by the passport officer to accept applications for passports made on behalf of minor children by the mother have caused great inconvenience in cases where the parents are separated or where the father is mentally incapacitated or away from home or otherwise prevented from giving his signature; what is the present wording of the instructions given to passport officers for dealing with such cases; and whether he will consider meeting the difficulty by amending the instructions?
§ Mr. ButlerThe instructions provide that, where passport facilities are required for a person under the age of 21 years, the written consent of the father or other legal guardian should be furnished. No instances have been brought to the notice of my Noble Friend of serious inconvenience having been caused by the operation of this requirement. If in any case there are difficulties in the way of obtaining the father's consent and the circumstances are explained to the Passport Office, the matter can always be arranged and no amendment of the instructions seems to be called for.
Miss RathboneIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a recent case the passport officer refused to listen to representations that it was impossible to obtain the father's signature; and could not the regulations be amended so as to cover cases where it is obvious that the father's signature cannot reasonably be obtained?
§ Mr. ButlerIf the hon. Member will bring any particular case to my attention, I will see what can be done about it.