§ Mr. Purbrickasked the Home Secretary if he will give a summary of the reasons for permits that have been granted to people to go to Eire since the 1st July 1943; and the number granted to applicants under such headings?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonFor the 10 weeks to 4th September the number of permits granted was 35,503. The reasons can conveniently be summarised under three heads, namely, visiting or returning to homes in Eire, or taking up residence there; compassionate grounds, such as the serious illness or death of a near relative; and official or other business of national importance. The figures under these three heads are 33,465, 1,321 and 717 respectively. The first group comprises mainly Irish workers engaged for employment in this country on the understanding that they will be allowed to pay occasional visits to their homes. Many of these 447W travel with leave certificates, in lieu of exit permits, under special arrangements applying to firms who employ a substantial number of such workers. Returns as to the numbers who travelled with leave certificates during the period in question are not at present available.
§ Dr. Littleasked the Home Secretary whether he will give instructions to passport officials that parents in Britain who have a child or children serving in His Majesty's Forces in Northern Ireland will receive permits to enable them to visit Ulster?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir. As members of His Majesty's Forces stationed in Northern Ireland are able to spend their leave in Great Britain the rule is to grant permits only in exceptional cases where leave cannot be spent here.