§ Mr. R. Ethertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations are taken into account in deciding whether to issue a permit to a Member of Parliament to visit Eire.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the 23rd September last to my hon. Friend the Member for Walton (Mr. Purbrick), when it was explained that in the matter of travel to Eire, as in the case of travel to foreign neutral countries, Members of Parliament were subject to the same rules as other persons. They are, therefore, required to show that some definite public advantage would be served by any proposed visit to Eire, unless there are special compassionate grounds for allowing a visit for private purposes.