§ 4. Major Mott-Radclyffeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a fee of 25s. is charged for the issue of an Italian visa to British subjects, whereas citizens of 1008 the U.S.A. receive a similar visa free of charge; and whether he will make representations to the Italian Government to rectify this anomaly.
Mr. McNeilThe grant of Italian visas free of charge to United States citizens is, I understand, governed by a reciprocal arrangement between the two countries. His Majesty's Government do not advocate a similar arrangement at the present time in respect of visas for British subjects, but the Italian Government are being pressed to reduce the fee charged for Italian visas granted to British subjects to the standard fee of 10 gold francs which is equivalent at present to 16s.
§ Major Mott-RadclyffeIf the Italian Government do not respond to that pressure, would the right hon. Gentleman consider reciprocally increasing the price of British visas to Italian subjects?
Mr. McNeilI certainly would not rule that out as a reciprocal measure, but I Lope and believe that the Italian Government will listen to what are our reasonable pleas.