§ 41. Mr. Wilson Harrisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Members of this House are not accepted as sponsors for applicants for passports; and whether he will arrange that they shall be.
Mr. McNeilThe categories of persons mentioned on the passport application form as being qualified to verify the declaration of an applicant are not intended to be exhaustive. I have no reason to doubt that a Member of this House would be accepted as a sponsor provided he had a reasonable personal knowledge of the applicant.
§ Mr. HarrisDoes the hon. Gentleman not think it desirable that that fact should be stated? Does he really think that hon. Members should be labelled as less competent in this matter than the Mayor of Margate or the Vicar of Ventnor?
Mr. McNeilI would draw the attention of the hon. Gentleman to the fact that the paragraph ends with that very useful expression " et cetera."
§ Mr. HouseWould it not be in keeping with the dignity of this House if the Minister secured the insertion in the forms of the phrase "Members of Parliament" rather than leave it to be inferred from the words " et cetera "?
Mr. McNeilI am not certain that it is any assistance to hon. Members of this House that it should be generally known that then are qualified to perform this service.
§ Mr. HarrisDoes not the hon. Gentleman think it desirable that the constituents of hon. Members should know that their Member is qualified to render this service to them, and does he think it proper that hon. Members of this House should be reduced to the position of et cetera?
Mr. McNeilI have no doubt that after this discussion the constituents of the hon. Gentleman, at any rate, will be aware of the position.