§ 86. Mr. Pooleasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that British subjects who have emigrated to Australia are refused the issue of new passports or the return of their own passports by the High Commissioner's Office there: and on what authority British subjects are deprived of their passports in this way.
§ Mr. J. FosterThe hon. Gentleman presumably refers to the fact that in connection with the assisted passage scheme with Australia it has been the practice since 1950 for Government assisted migrants, who have undertaken if they leave Australia within two years to repay the financial assistance given to them, to76W be refused passports if they are not willing to make the repayment. Should these migrants, notwithstanding their undertaking, still press to leave Australia within that period without fulfilling it, the practice is for the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia to give them a travel document. As regards the authority to withhold passports. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the hon. Member for Enfield, East (Mr. Ernest Davies), on 8th May. 1950.