§ 36. Mr. E. L. Mallalieuasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to remove from the minds of visitors to the United Kingdom the feeling that they are being cold-shouldered, he will end the practice of separating passengers arriving at the ports into two streams, British and foreign, for passport examination.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeNo, Sir. It has been found that, where large numbers are involved, this practice is in the best interests of the passengers as a whole.
§ Mr. MallalieuIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the more civilised countries of Europe do not follow this practice and that he is really 554 being led by the nose in this less civilised practice by the United States of America?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI was not aware that there were any more civilised countries in Europe than this country. We are always getting complaints about delays in getting people off ships, and it has been found that, by this splitting, the passengers—who, after all, are the first consideration, and whose convenience is very important—are dealt with more quickly. Whilst the Home Office has no particular desire one way or the other, from the point of view of the passengers' convenience this is much the better way.