THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, with your permission, I venture to address a question to His Majesty's Government of which I have given them private notice, as follows: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they can make a statement regarding the provision of facilities for Peers to visit France.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, I am obliged to my noble friend. His Majesty's Government have given careful consideration to this matter and I am glad to be able to say that the transport position is such that it is now possible to afford facilities for travel to France which the Government hope will be satisfactory to noble Lords. In the first place, if a delegation of members of this House, of any Party, should be invited by a corresponding political Party in France to meet them, the noble Lords so invited will be given facilities to travel by air, subject of course to military requirements. Secondly, a limited number of air and sea-rail passages will be made available each week for noble Lords who wish to visit France. These places will be distributed by ballot under arrangements which are being made by my noble friend Lord Templemore, the Chief Government Whip in this House. Detailed information can also be obtained from him. It will, of course, be necessary for every noble Lord travelling under the latter scheme to apply individually for an exit permit and a French visa in the usual way and to make his own arrangements for accommodation in France.