§ 122. Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on granting facilities for visits by Members of Parliament and other persons of standing to the British zone of Germany.
§ Mr. J. HyndYes, Sir. Facilities are now available which will enable Members of both Houses and persons of like standing in public life to visit Germany for legitimate public purposes. These facilities include travel to and from Germany, the reservation of hotel accommodation in Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf and the provision of transport in Germany. The400W visitors will be expected to pay travel costs, plus a standard charge for accommodation and for local travel in Germany. It will be appreciated that the facilities are limited and the number of visitors who can be accommodated at any one time will be governed by that fact. The new arrangements will supersede those in force last Session under which organised parties from both Houses and certain individual members visited Germany. Applications from hon. Members desiring to avail themselves of this scheme should be addressed to the Central Secretariat, Control Office for Germany and Austria, Norfolk House, St. James's Square, London, S.W.I. Visits will normally be arranged in order of application and in the light of the accommodation and transport facilities available although there may be occasions on which priority should be given to hon. Members with special responsibilities. In the case of persons not Members of either House, these facilities will be provided only where there are substantial reasons on the interest of the Occupation why the proposed visits should take place. I hope that similar arrangements will soon be possible in the case of Austria.