§ Mr. Parryasked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission (1) why former staff of the House should report intended visits to Socialist countries, as directed by the Establishments Office;
515W(2) if he will make a statement on the recent directive issued by the Establishments Office to all staff concerning any proposed visits to Socialist countries, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside;
(3) if any directive has been issued to present or former members of staff concerning proposed holidays in the following countries: South Africa, El Salvador, Chile, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey or the Philippines; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what representations he has received concerning the direction issued by the Establishments Office concerning proposed tourist visits to Socialist countries by present and former members of the House of Commons staff; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BeithIt has been a routine practice in the public service for many years to give advice to staff on the problems they may encounter in travelling to certain Communist countries, and to require staff to inform their Departments of such visits, particularly if the staff concerned may have access to classified information. The same guidance has been given to House of Commons staff and former staff since 1982. No notice has been issued to House staff concerning visits to the other countries named by the hon. Member, although advice about them could be supplied. No representations had been received on this matter until the hon. Member tabled his question.