§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Home Secretary (1) what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of the issue of exit permits to persons who speak and write against the policy of the British Government on arrival in other countries; and will he take disciplinary action 2092W against those who have already transgressed;
(2) whether, before an exit permit to another country is issued, any guarantee is required from the person to whom it is issued to refrain from spreading propaganda inimical to our war effort?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonPersons who apply for exit permits to enable them to lecture in the U.S.A. and other applicants who appear likely to engage in propaganda or publicity of any kind are required to obtain the support of a Government Department for their proposed journey and to give an undertaking to return to this country forthwith if required to do so by His Majesty's Ambassador. It would be inconsistent with our traditional policy of freedom of expressions of opinion to refuse an exit permit merely on the ground that an applicant might engage in criticism of the policy of His Majesty's Government, but a permit would not be granted to any person whose public utterances or writings showed that he would be likely to engage, in the country which he proposes to visit, in propaganda inimical to our war effort. These arrangements provide a reasonable check against the mischief which my hon. Friend has in mind, but otherwise there is of course no power to take disciplinary action against persons whose harmful statements do not render them liable to criminal proceedings.