§ 8. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reasons applicants for passports in the Uganda Protectorate are refused permission to travel; who is responsible for making inquiries and decisions in the cases concerned; and how many such cases have occurred in the last five years.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. John Profumo)The issue of passports is within the discretion of the Governor and, when circumstances are considered to justify a refusal, it is not the practice to disclose the reasons or the nature of the inquiries made. Five applicants have been refused passports in Uganda during the last five years.
§ Mr. StonehouseHas the Under-Secretary of State's attention been drawn to the case of Mr. Mawagi and Mr. Ulaayeneza, two students at Makerere College, who had their passports taken from them when they were going to the airport to go to the Brussels Exhibition? Is not this an intolerable interference with the freedom of the individual to travel and a perfect gift to the Communists, in that they can use it in their propaganda? What does the Under-Secretary of State intend to do about it?
§ Mr. ProfumoI do not intend to do anything about it. I see no reason to depart from the normal practice and to disclose reasons in this case.