Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it has been proved that the visa is no obstacle to the entry into this country of undesirable aliens who have obtained passports; whether to the ordinary travelling public it is a source of considerable expense and inconvenience, with no corresponding advantages; whether it has now ceased to serve any useful purpose; and whether the visa system will be terminated at an early date?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe visa system has been proved to be a serious obstacle to the entry of undesirable aliens into this country, and without it the immigration officers would experience the greatest difficulty in dealing with such cases. The system affords intending travellers an opportunity of ascertaining in advance whether they comply with the immigration regulations of the various countries they propose to visit, and thus frequently saves them the expense and inconvenience of undertaking a journey only to be refused admission to a country on arrival at its frontier. Tobona fide travellers, on the other hand, a visa ensures a far more rapid and easier passage across a frontier than would be possible if the entire burden of control rested on the frontier officials. There is no intention at present of bringing the visa system to an end.