§ 12. Mr. Brockwayasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has completed his consideration of the factors involved in 575 the provision of passport photographs of British subjects to the police of foreign Governments; and what decision has now been made in this matter.
§ 27. Mr. Wyattasked the Lord Privy Seal why he made available for transmission to the French authorities a copy of a passport photograph of Mr. Leigh Vance.
§ Mr. HeathPassport photographs have in certain circumstances been supplied to the police and transmitted by them to police forces abroad for the purpose of investigating crime. In this case, I am informed that copies of the passport photographs of Mr. Leigh Vance were sent to the French police at their express request to investigate an alleged offence.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have reviewed the general practice and have decided that in future passport photographs made available to the police will be transmitted to police abroad only when required in connection with the investigation of offences within the Extradition Acts or, in the case of Commonwealth countries and the Colonies, within the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881.
§ Mr. BrockwayI greatly appreciate that response of the right hon. Gentleman, but may I ask him whether it is not wrong in principle that photographs which are supplied to the Government for the protection of citizens bearing passports should be handed over to the police of other countries for their prosecution, particularly when the police methods in those other countries in the use of the photographs would not be accepted in the practice of British justice?
§ Mr. HeathI do not think that the House would wish the use of these photographs to be denied where serious crime is involved. Under the new arrangement which I have just announced they would be so available. It is the fact, as announced on the passport form, that the photograph which is sent becomes the property of the Government. The balance between the individual and the use of the photograph for serious public purpose; is a difficult matter, but I hope that we have now struck the balance.
§ Mr. WyattIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this case Mr. Leigh Vance was advised by Scotland Yard not to send a photograph of himself? Nevertheless, the right hon. Gentleman's Department made one available to the French authorities. No charge could have been proceeded with if this had not been done, because the incident to which it referred took place many months ago. As a result, Mr. Leigh Vance has been put to considerable expense. As the new ruling would have prevented this considerable expense, will the right hon. Gentleman consider some compensation?
§ Mr. HeathI could not give any undertaking about the last part of the hon. Member's question. I have studied this matter and there is a slight difference in the account which was given of the discussion which took place about Mr. Vance sending a photograph himself. The subsequent part of the procedure—the police forwarding the photograph—was done under the regulations or the procedure existing at the time, which, as I have explained to the House, had been in existence for many years but which has now been changed by my announcement today.