§ Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) how many British citizens have had their passports impounded during each of the last three years; and if he will give the number, in each main category, of reasons for this action;
(2) if he will cease the practice of impounding the passports of British citizens who have received loans from Her Majesty's Government's representatives abroad, arising from circumstances over which they had no control.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThe exact number of passports impounded in the last three years is not known. The main categories are (1) those held by persons who have been repatriated at the expense of Her Majesty's Government, and (2) those issued by the illegal régime in Rhodesia or held by persons known to be active supporters of that regime.
With regard to the first of these categories, the number of repatriation cases (some of which involve whole families and therefore more than one passport) in each of the last three financial years was:
271W
1964–65 … … … 2,990 1965–66 … … … 2,188 1966–67 … … … 2,463 The cost of these repatriations in 1964–65 was £77,000 and in 1965–66 £55,547. The figure for 1966–67 is not yet available, but it is expected to be more than £60,000. While the cost to the British taxpayer of the repatriation of British subjects remains at this level, I would not normally feel justified in giving facilities for further travel abroad to persons whose debt to Her Majesty's Government is still outstanding. Special consideration is, of course, given to compassionate cases.
The number of cases in the second category is approximately 200.