§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Transport the names of the Sea Passages Priority Board; upon what principle selection is made of passengers; how far permits are restricted to Government-sponsored individuals; and when these restrictions will be removed.
§ Mr. BarnesThe Sea Passages Priority Board is composed of representatives of the Government Departments sponsoring intending passengers by sea. Available space is so limited that passages can only be found for persons travelling in the national interest, whose journeys must be sponsored by the Government Department most closely concerned with their business, and for a limited number of persons for Whom passages are provided on compassionate grounds. This machinery to ensure that passenger space is fairly allocated to those having high priority claims must necessarily be retained until the space available is adequate to the demands upon it.