§ Dr. Littleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, owing to the easing of the war situation, he will make arrangements whereby the issue of travel permits between Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be extended, as many cases of great hardship could be obviated by wider travel facilities.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIt is the Government's intention to reduce the restrictions upon travel between Great Britain and Ireland to a minimum as soon as circumstances permit, but I regret that the time has not yet come for any major alteration of the present system. Permits are at present granted for visits to parents, children, husbands or wives who have established homes in Northern Ireland or Eire, for visits to attend a funeral of a near relative or to see a near relative who is dangerously ill and for business of national importance recommended by a Government Department, chamber of commerce or other recognised trade association. Applications for exceptional treatment on compassionate grounds, where it is claimed that substantial hardship would be caused if facilities were withheld, are sympathetically considered, and if my hon. Friend will send me details of any cases which he has in mind in which hardship has been caused by the refusal of a permit, I shall be glad to look into them.