HC Deb 18 July 1955 vol 544 cc24-5
44. Mr. Yates

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make further representations to the United States of America with a view to an alteration of the present arrangements requiring British visitors to the United States to be finger printed.

Mr. Turton

As explained on 8th March, 1954, by my hon. Friend the present Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Her Majesty's Government have had no valid ground for making representations to the United States Government on this subject.

Mr. Yates

Is the Minister aware that Russia recently made a strong protest about her citizens being finger printed? In the interests of better relations, is it not time that Her Majesty's Government pressed for an alteration of these arrangements, which are very much resented by British people? Why should they be charged with having criminal tendencies, almost, before they go to the United States?

Mr. Turton

This visa requirement must be the domestic concern of the visa-issuing authority. What we have done is to make representations to try to reduce the formalities, and the validity of the visa has recently been extended to four years.