HC Deb 05 February 1948 vol 446 cc1907-8
55. Mr. Martin Lindsay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will put forward the provisional date of 1st May for continental visits to 1st April in order to permit school children to go abroad during the Easter holidays.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

No, Sir. Though I have sympathy with the suggestion, a date earlier than May is not practicable. Bilateral negotiations with a number of countries have to be conducted, and we shall not be able to issue before March the list of countries to which travel will be allowed. After the list is issued a large number of detailed administrative arrangements will have to be made and these cannot be completed before Easter.

Mr. H. Hynd

Is the Financial Secretary aware that very large schemes for exchange visits are in preparation by bodies like the Boy Scouts' Association, and that it is desirable that the earliest possible information should be given, otherwise it will be impossible to carry out these schemes?