§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made for wives of those engaged in Government and commercial duties in the Colonial Empire to obtain passages to and from the United Kingdom now that the priority system has been given up.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Colonial Office allocation of berths covers passages from the United Kingdom for Government officials and their wives. Passages for wives of non-officials whose applications have already been sponsored by my Department will also he met from this allocation. New applications by wives of non-officials are made direct to the shipping line concerned or through a travel agency. The priority system has not been entirely abolished, it remains in force in respect of passages to the West Indian and Far Eastern territories and the Falkland Islands, and responsibility for arranging priority passages to these countries still rests with the Colonial Office. As regards homeward passages, priority boards are established in certain areas and continue to control the allocation of passages. In other areas, the shipping lines have undertaken to meet as far as possible any special requirements for passages to the United Kingdom when such requirements are notified to them.