§ 69. Mr. Gallacherasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the hardship caused to some 300 building workers, citizens of Eire, at present engaged on Government construction work in Liverpool, who are refused permission to pay week-end visits to their families in Eire; and whether he will secure the raising of the ban on such short visits home by these men?
§ Sir J. AndersonAs I have explained on previous occasions, the grant of such facilities would not be consistent with the objects which the existing control of passenger traffic between this country and Eire is designed to serve.
§ Mr. GallacherWill the Home Secretary arrange for some method of identity cards to enable these men to visit their families in Eire?
§ Sir J. AndersonIt could be arranged, but it would defeat the object of the 949 existing system, which is to reduce the volume of passenger traffic between Ireland and this country to a minimum.
§ 85. Mr. Magnayasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Dr. McMullan, of Wrekenton, Gateshead, was refused by the Passport Office, Dale Street, Liverpool, a passport to Bally-mena, County Antrim, to see his dying mother, although he sent in triplicate the proper form of application required, accompanied by the local doctor's certificate, but that on 10th August he received a letter from the passport office stating that the police in Ballymena must also certify the condition of his mother; was this action taken on his instructions; and will he see that no police certificate is asked for if a doctor's certificate has been obtained?
§ Sir J. AndersonExit permits are granted to enable persons to travel to Northern Ireland to visit sick relatives, subject to verification of the facts in each case. I am informed that Dr. McMullan's application for an exit permit was not refused, but that as an immediate journey was not proposed he was asked to arrange for confirmatory evidence of his mother's illness to be sent to the Passport Office in Liverpool by the police in Ballymena. Experience has shown that it is necessary to obtain such confirmatory evidence in many cases, but I have given instructions that in future an exit permit is to be granted without further inquiry in any case where a doctor's certificate is produced in support of the application.
§ Mr. MagnayHas the right hon. Gentleman severely admonished the stupidity of this passport office in not accepting a doctor's certificate concerning a doctor's mother? It is no use now. The old lady is dead. The very time he came to see me was the time of her funeral. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will admonish these people.
§ Sir J. AndersonAs I explained, I have issued instructions that permits are to be granted in future in every case where a medical certificate is supplied with the application.