HL Deb 01 July 1975 vol 362 c89
Baroness FISHER of REDNAL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the practice and policy of member countries of the European Economic Community regarding the use of family passports.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, there is no uniform policy or practice and only three of the nine EEC countries issue family passports.

Baroness FISHER of REDNAL

My Lords, will my noble friend tell me whether the internationally agreed practices which are operated by the EEC were laid down in 1926 and, if that is correct, would he consider asking Her Majesty's Government to bring a much more up-to-date practice into operation in the immediate future?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right. These practices were first formalised—some had been in use before—in 1926 under the aegis of the League of Nations. We are constantly consulting with other countries as to ways and means by agreement to improve passport policy. More often than not this country has probably taken the lead in this matter.

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