§ Captain Chetwyndasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider extending the validity of passports for the period for which they could not be used owing to restrictions on overseas travel during the war; or if he will allow them to be renewed for such a period free of charge.
Mr. Noel-BakerAs my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, a passport costs 15s. and is valid for five years. It can be renewed for another five years at a charge of 2s. for each year. The administrative difficulties which would be involved in my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion for the extension or renewal of passports would be considerable, and I regret, therefore, that I do not feel that the cost to the travelling public of the existing system justifies a change.