HC Deb 11 July 1957 vol 573 c60W
50. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Miss May Huang, a citizen of Formosa, in England on a two-year fellowship awarded by the World Health Organisation, was refused a re-entry permit to this country if she went to the six-day International Congress of Midwives in Stockholm, although the British Council were sponsoring her and had already obtained the Swedish visa necessary, and although the College of Midwives had requested this to be allowed; and why there was a delay in returning her passport from 17th May until 11th June.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The rule, which is a necessary one, is to grant a return visa to the United Kingdom only if the foreign visitor has a passport or travel document effectively valid for return to his own country for a period longer than two months, and as Miss Huang had not got this she was refused a return visa until her document was extended. I much regret that, owing to great pressure of work, the reply to the inquiry, which was received on 20th May, was not dispatched until 6th June.