HL Deb 02 July 1957 vol 204 cc537-8

2.37 p.m.

LORD STRABOLGI

My 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 why Mr. and Mrs. P. Georghiou have been refused permission to leave Cyprus for a holiday, and why applications for exit permits from Mr. John Christofides and Dr. Phanos have been rejected, as reported in The Times of 27th June, 1957.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF PERTH)

My Lords, there was a mistake of identity over Mr. and Mrs. P. Georghiou. The name is, I am informed, a common one in Cyprus. As soon as the error was realised, Mr. and Mrs. Georghiou were granted exit permits for their holiday. As regards Dr. Phanos, the refusal was due to a misunderstanding of current instructions. He, too, is now being given an exit permit. I regret these two administrative errors. The refusal of a permit for Mr. John Christofides was based on security grounds, on which the noble Lord will not expect me to enlarge.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his very full reply. May I put to him a supplementary question, arising out of the case of Mr. John Christofides? May I ask the noble Earl whether any charge has been preferred against this British subject?

THE EARL OF PERTH

So far as I know, no charge has been preferred against this British subject. He is subject, like everyone else in Cyprus, to the exit regulations under Emergency Powers, by which he has to seek a permit before being allowed to leave Cyprus.