HC Deb 06 February 1958 vol 581 cc1345-6
31. Mrs. Emmet

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for visas to visit the United Kingdom as tourists were received from Soviet nationals in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during 1957; and how many were granted.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

The Soviet authorities, who require applications by Soviet nationals for United Kingdom visas to be made through them, applied during 1957 on behalf of 117 Soviet nationals who were described as tourists. All these applications were granted.

Mrs. Emmet

Does not that belie Mr. Khrushchev's statement to one of our daily newspapers in September that we were placing obstacles in the way of visitors to this country from the U.S.S.R.?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

I agree with what my hon. Friend has said. I think that it should be borne in mind that there is a very clear difference in the exchange of visits, in that there are no restrictions, administrative or otherwise, imposed by us on British subjects leaving the United Kingdom for any destination, while tourists from the Soviet Union must obtain exit visas through their own authorities; and all their applications have been granted.