HL Deb 07 December 1976 vol 378 cc579-80WA
Lord AVEBURY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) how many special vouchers were issued to non-patrial United Kingdom passport holders resident in Rhodesia in 1974, 1975 and 1976, to the latest convenient date, and what was the average length of time between application and the issue of a voucher in respect of vouchers issued in each of these years;
  2. (ii) whether they are aware that non-patrial United Kingdom passport holders resident in Rhodesia do not know that they are eligible to apply for special vouchers; and what measures they have taken and will take to see that they are informed of their rights.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

  1. (i) Although it has been customary to announce changes in the annual global quota of special vouchers available to certain United Kingdom passport holders, mainly those in East Africa, the noble Lord will be aware that it is not the practice to reveal the numbers issued in individual countries.
  2. (ii) No special steps have been taken to publicise the special voucher scheme in Rhodesia. However, the experience of the Passport Section of our Embassy in Pretoria, which has since 1969 been responsible for dealing with travel inquiries from persons in Rhodesia, is that the scheme is well known there.