§ 6. Mr. Wyattasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will pay compensation to Mr. Leigh Vance to cover the costs of his defending a charge in the French courts on which he was acquitted, and which could not have been brought unless his Department had supplied to the French authorities a passport photograph in circumstances in which such a photograph would, subsequent to his recent decision, not now be supplied by his Department.
§ Mr. HeathMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I have sympathetically considered the hon. Gentleman's suggestion but, on the evidence before us, we can find no grounds for the payment of compensation to Mr. Vance.
§ Mr. WyattEven the fact that the Minister has sympathetically considered this shows a glimmering of light. Is not it a fact that he "carted" this unfortunate gentleman by allowing his Department to send Mr. Vance's photograph to the French authorities when Scotland Yard had previously advised the man not to allow his photograph to be sent? If the Department had not done this, Mr. Vance would never have had to defend a charge on which he was acquitted but which cost him £800 to defend. Surely there is a case for the Government to do something to compensate this unfortunate British citizen whose passport he thought was a protection to him but which, in fact, was used to undo him?
§ Mr. HeathWe have examined this sympathetically. We realise the embarrassment caused to this gentleman by the fact that this charge was brought in France, but I cannot accept the statement of the hon. Gentleman as to the reason why and the circumstances in which the charge was brought.