HC Deb 06 July 1978 vol 953 cc267-8W
Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Lord President of the Council whether instructions can be given to police on duty in the House to confiscate passes from persons no longer entitled to use them.

Mr. Foot

Members who are defeated in a General Election are asked to hand in their photo-identity passes as soon as possible, as are all other Members when they leave the House.

Members' private secretaries are likewise asked to hand in their passes when they cease to be employed by Members.

It is the responsibility of Heads of Departments to reclaim passes from their staff who cease to work in the House of Commons.

Editors are asked to return the passes of all journalists when they cease to work in the Press Gallery.

The police already help in cases where persons are known to have left but have failed to hand in their passes.