§ Captain Kerbyasked the Lord Privy Seal how many British Visitors' Permits have been issued to the public since their inception; how many cases of foreigners drawing them have subsequently come to light; and what safeguards he is considering to ensure that undesirable persons cannot utilise these travel documents.
§ Mr. HeathFrom 15th March, 1961, the date of introduction of the scheme, until 25th May, 1963, 806,943 British Visitor's Passports have been issued.
Eight persons, including four aliens, have so far been successfully prosecuted for falsely declaring themselves to be British subjects, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, for the purpose of obtaining British Visitor's Passports.
I fully realise that British Visitor's Passports can be obtained more easily than ordinary passports by persons making false declarations, and the point is under constant consideration. All applicants are warned that it is an offence to make such a declaration, and this warning has no doubt acted as a deterrent. 53 persons have so far been successfully prosecuted for offences under Section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1925, in connection with applications for British Visitor's Passports.