§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions are set upon Members of Parliament entering Ministry of Defence property within their constituencies.
§ Mr. SpeedThe general procedures governing parliamentary visits to defence establishments are of long standing. Under these arrangements requests from hon. Members to visit establishments in their own constituencies require specific ministerial approval, which in normal circumstances is readily forthcoming. Ministerial approval is not required when a unit or establishment wishes to invite an hon. Member to a purely social function but this is naturally subject to the proviso that there must be no question of such occasions being used for political purposes.