§ Mr. AYLESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons for continuing the present passport system; and whether he can hold out any hope of an early restoration of peace-time conditions in the interests of the travelling public?
§ Mr. PONSONBYThe main reasons for continuing the present system are:
1. That British subjects travelling abroad are, by the regulations of practically all foreign governments, required on entering their territories to be in possession of a passport, which is the only official document that can be furnished to them establishing their nationality and identity.
298W
TAXATION PER HEAD. — 1913 or 1913–14 (actual). 1923 or 1923–4 (estimated). In currency. In Sterling at par. Exchange Rate=£. In Currency. In Sterling at par. Exchange Rate=£1. United Kingdom … £3 11 0 £3 11 0 — £15 18 0H £15 18 0 — France … Fcs. 84.5 £3 7 0 Fcs. 25.22 Fcs. 522.7A £6 18 2 Fcs. 75.68 United States* (Federal). … $6.8 £1 7 11 $4.86⅔ ⅔30.0 £6 14 10 ⅔4.45 Italy … Lire 53.8 £2 2 8 Lire 25.22 Lire 327.7C £3 6 11 Lire 98 Germany* (Reich) … Mks 31.3 £1 10 8 Mks. 20.43 Mks. 81.34D £4 1 4 Mks. 20 Canada*:— Dominion … $16.60 £3 8 2 $4.86⅔ $36.80C £7 19 8 $4.61 Australia:— Commonwealth … £3 8 1 £3 8 1 — £8 1 9 £8 1 9 — States … £1 5 11 £1 5 11 — £3 4 2F £3 4 2 — South Africa:— Union … £1 9 0 £1 9 0 — £3 9 11C £3 9 11 — Provinces … £0 4 9 £0 4 9 — £0 11 9G £0 11 9 — New Zealand … £6 3 0 £6 3 0 — £12 5 3C £12 5 3 — * It will be observed that the figures for the U.S., Canada and Germany show the expenditure of the Central Government only. They do not include the expenditure of the States for which information is not available. A.—Actual. C.—1922–3, actual. D.—1924–5, Gold Marks. F.—1921–2, actual. G.—1922–3, estimated. H.—Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 2. That, having regard to the aliens' immigration Regulations in this country, it is to the advantage of British subjects, on arrival here, to be in a position to prove at once their British nationality by production to the immigration officers of a British passport.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is not therefore prepared to abolish the existing system, but he will continue, as far as the regulations of foreign States permit, to endeavour to remove or alleviate such restrictions as constitute a serious impediment to freedom of intercourse with foreign countries.