HC Deb 20 March 1950 vol 472 cc1553-4
59. Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what negotiations are in progress to enable the peoples of Britain and France to visit each other without passports.

Mr. Ernest Davies

No negotiations on this subject are in progress.

Mr. Marples

In view oil the outstanding success of the recent visit of the French President to this country, does not the hon. Gentleman think it would be a nice gesture if negotiations were initiated by this country?

Mr. Davies

Yes, but as long as currency control exists it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to abolish passport controls.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Did not the Foreign Secretary state a few months ago that it would be an early objective of his to remove passports between us and the French?

Later:

Mr. Teeling

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I wish to raise a point about Question 59. I did not wish to interrupt during Question Time. You may remember that a few days ago, Mr. Speaker, you said that Members make up their own minds whether, in regard to Questions, they would ask a lot of supplementary questions or not. Some days ago I had down a Question which was of vital interest to my constituency. It was Question 65 but we only reached Question 45, and therefore my Question was not called. I tried today to ask a question on Question 59 because the problem of channel boats going backwards and forwards is of vital interest to my constituency.

Mr. Speaker

I am sorry if I turned down a supplementary question which the hon. Member wished to put. He put down a Question previously and was not present when it was called. He had today asked three supplementary questions before the Question to which he referred was called. There must be some limit to supplementary questions if we wish to get through the Questions on the Order Paper. In the case of supplementary questions which I turn down, I have no doubt that the hon. Member concerned is disgruntled, but I have no doubt that it will please an hon. Member who has down a later Question. I have to consider all sides, and I do my best. I shall not allow unlimited supplementary questions because I do not think it is fair to those who put Questions down.

Mr. Teeling

Further to my point of Order. It would only have been my first supplementary question on this particular Question.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member was not here for the Question which he put down. I think I was not unfair over that.

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