HC Deb 11 December 1950 vol 482 cc815-6
60. Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will suspend payment of our subvention to the Government of Jordan while that Government refuses an entry visa to an hon. Member of this House.

Mr. Ernest Davies

No, Sir.

Mr. Mikardo

Does not my hon. Friend think it monstrous—

Mr. Speaker

Asking if the Minister thinks it monstrous is expressing an opinion, and is not a supplementary question.

Mr. Mikardo

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is proper for a country which would be bankrupt in three months without the money this House votes for it to exclude from their territory a Member of this House, whoever he may be?

Mr. Davies

We very much regret the fact that hon. Members of this House are not free to travel anywhere they choose to travel. If visas are refused to some of my hon. Friends we regret it, but those who have visas refused might be flattered by the fact that Governments take notice of what they say in this House.

Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite

Who was the hon. Member whose immigration is so unwelcome to the Government of Jordan?

Mr. Paget

Will my hon. Friend assure us that representations have been made to our representatives that we cannot regard it as a friendly action if Jordan excludes Members of this House as visitors?

Mr. Davies

We did not get quite as far as that when we asked our representative in Amman to facilitate, if possible, the granting of a visa to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, South (Mr. Mikardo).