§ 48. Mr. Purbrickasked the Prime Minister whether he will take an early opportunity of clarifying the rights of Members of Parliament to travel within and without the United Kingdom; and to suggest a procedure whereby any objections the Secretary of State for the Home Department may have to particular movements of any Member shall be communicated to that Member who shall then be entitled to refer them to a Select Committee of the House, appointed for that purpose?
§ The Prime MinisterI had hoped that, as a result of the Debate on 21st October, 176 it had been made clear that there is no intention of using the control necessary for security reasons in such a manner as to put obstacles in the way of hon. Members carrying out their Parliamentary duties and that the relevant Regulations will be liberally interpreted in their application to Members of Parliament. If any case should arise in which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary doubts whether he would be justified in granting an exit permit he will always be ready to discuss it with the hon. Member concerned. I do not think any further clarification of the position or the establishment of any new procedure is necessary.