HC Deb 19 December 1960 vol 632 cc875-6
26. Mr. Brockway

asked the Lord Privy Seal in what circumstances Her Majesty's Government provide foreign Governments with photographs supplied to them for passport purposes by British subjects without informing the persons concerned.

Mr. Heath

I am informed that copies of passport photographs have, on occasion, been transmitted by the police to police forces abroad for the purpose of investigating crime.

Mr. Brockway

In view of the fact that these photographs are provided for a document that promises protection for Her Majesty's subjects, is it not contrary to that promise that they should be provided without an assurance that the identification methods in the other country are consistent with British justice? Secondly, should not they be used only in serious cases, such as in respect of extradictable offences?

Mr. Heath

The passport is to provide protection, but this arrangement was made for the purposes of investigating crime. The question of the methods used in the country concerned is a very important one, and I will look at that.

Mr. Fletcher

Is not this scandalous? Surely the right hon. Gentleman should give an assurance that photographs provided to the Government to enable the Government to issue British passports ought not in any circumstances to be supplied to any foreign Government.

Mr. Heath

This is a process which have been in operation for a considerable time.

Hon. Members

Shame.

Mr. Snow

In any event, what constitutes a crime in this country is regarded in a very different light in some others. Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, though a photograph may be obtained on the pretext of being used in the case of an ordinary felony, it may be used for something entirely different—for penalising people—when it gets abroad?

Mr. Heath

It is a question of the definition of an offence, and the police must be the judges of that. Whether or not a case is a rightful one for the police to provide a photograph is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Sir G. Nicholson

Would it not solve the problem if these photographs were never sent except in cases of extradictable crime?

Mr. Heath

I will examine that suggestion.

Mr. Brockway

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the reasonably satisfactory Answer I have received, I cannot, for technical reasons, give the usual notice to raise this matter on the Adjournment, but I should like to have an opportunity to return to it at a later stage.