HC Deb 13 March 1952 vol 497 c150W
83. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the ban on cross-Channel day excursions, to and from Brighton, Southend, Margate and other seaside resorts because of security reasons, is still enforced.

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

Staffing difficulties have made it impossible to consider resumption of day trips from ports such as Brighton at which Customs and Immigration staff are not normally stationed. A suggestion that day trips might be allowed from ports at which Customs and Immigration officers are available was carefully considered in 1951 and again this year, but has had to be rejected because of the need to maintain close control of entry into this country. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently decided that he could not allow extra currency for day excursionists.