HC Deb 16 February 1984 vol 54 cc292-3W
Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had before he refused visas to the delegation from Eastern Europe attending last Sunday's meeting of the international trade union committee for peace and disarmament.

Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had prior to immigration officials refusing entry to the United Kingdom as visitors to five people from diffent Eastern European countries on grounds that entry would be "non-conducive to the public good" on 11 February.

Mr. Waddington

The Home Secretary consulted my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last two years his Department has refused visas to citizens of Eastern bloc countries seeking to attend meetings in the United Kingdom connected with furthering world peace.

Mr. Waddington

Apart from the recent refusal of visas to five Eastern European officials of the international trades union committee for peace and disarmament, there have been two other such cases in the past two years in which the refusal of a visa was on the personal direction of the Home Secretary.

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refused entry to the United Kingdom to a delegation from East Europe attending a meeting of the international trades union committee for peace and disarmament; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 15 February 1984, at c. 191.

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