§ Mr. T. J. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now relax the restrictions on travel by business and other visitors to the Channel Islands.
§ Mr. EdeYes, Sir. The operation of transporting home the evacuated population to the Islands is nearly complete; and some of the limited shipping available can now be used for visitors. There is still, however, very little spare accommodation in the Islands and the Insular authorities are anxious that their difficulties should not be increased by the arrival of travellers who have nowhere to sleep. Accordingly, exit permits from Great Britain will be granted for the present only to intending visitors who produce certificates issued in the Islands that lodgings are available for them. In addition, those people who have left the Islands760W since their liberation will now be able to obtain facilities from the Insular authorities to return.
There will be no scrutiny of the reason for any visitor's journey, but I should emphasize that the Islands do not yet wish to receive holiday makers and sightseers. The repair and refitting of houses and hotels is being pressed forward and it is hoped that by the spring the Islands will again be ready to welcome holiday makers, and the control of travel between the Islands and Great Britain can then be abolished entirely, though it is still doubtful what shipping will be available for this service.