§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have in mind any measures to redress the balance of cultural and tourist travel between the United Kingdom, on the one hand, and the United States and Canada; how many years have passed since a United Kingdom resident could, in normal circumstances, obtain a tourist allowance to the United States; and whether any statistics are available showing that such travel facilities, especially among young people, are almost entirely unilateral.]
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government attach great importance to the fostering of personal and cultural contacts between this country and Canada and the U.S.A. Unfortunately, our balance of payments difficulties compel us to restrict dollar expenditure to essential purposes only. For this reason there has been no basic travel allowance for the dollar area since this was withdrawn in August, 1947. But special allowances are available for businessmen, for persons wishing to attend conferences, for post-graduate education, and for certain compassionate cases. Finally, a small allowance is given for the incidental expenses of people visiting close relatives. Statistics of the 355 number of United Kingdom residents visiting the U.S.A. and Canada are not available. The Government do not at present contemplate making any change as regards private travel to North America, since the cost of doing so would be substantial. But the position will be reviewed as soon as our circumstances permit some relaxation.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, whilst I should not wish to press the noble Lord for a further extempore reply in detail, perhaps I can properly ask him this question. Would the Treasury take the views of the Board of Trade and the Commonwealth Relations Office on the subject matter of my Question, and thus acquaint themselves more fully with the strength of the case which I have ventured to bring to the notice of the House?
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, I am answering on behalf of Her Majesty's Government and not merely of the Treasury. Before an Answer on these matters is given, the full views of the Departments of the Government are always taken into account.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, while no doubt the full views of the Departments are taken into account—and I thank the noble Lord for clearing up that point—may I draw his attention to the fact that the statistical information upon which a decision should be based has evidently not been ascertained by the Treasury? Could he not at least give me an assurance that that information will be ascertained?
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, I do not know on what grounds the noble Lord says that the Treasury lacked some statistical information. To the best of my knowledge, the Treasury have the most abundant and accurate statistics available to them.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, I must have misunderstood the reply of the noble Lord. I thought he stated that figures were not available. If they are not available, they can easily be obtained. The number of visas granted can be obtained from the Embassy concerned, and similarly from the High Commissioner's Office.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, if the noble Lord is referring to the number of United 356 Kingdom residents visiting the United States of America, I admit that those figures are not available, but I do not see that they are relevant to the noble Lord's Question.