asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the advertisement of the Canadian Government in the British Press announcing that passengers proceeding to Canada and who intend to return to the United Kingdom will require a passport to secure a. re-entry into this country; and whether he will call the attention of the Canadian Government to the inaccuracy of this statement and to the fact, as announced by him on 16th November last, that, under the present Regulations, British subjects may visit Canada without holding any passport?

Mr. HARMSWORTH:

The statement referred to by the hon. Member, to which my attention has been called, is not inconsistent with the reply given to his question on the 16th ultimo, for while it is the fact that persons travelling to Canada direct can do so without being in possession of passports, British subjects intending to return to this country should obtain passports in order to prove on entry into the United Kingdom that they do not come within the restrictions of the Aliens Order.

Is that a sufficient purpose for maintaining a passport staff?

Mr. HARMSWORTH:

That is not the only object: my hon. Friend realises that the office is a great convenience, too.

Is there any purpose whatever served by requiring that British subjects visiting a portion of our Dominions should carry passports that are never asked for?

Mr. HARMSWORTH:

Visitors can proceed to Canada without a passport, and travel there, but it is advisable to have it.