Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 June 1964.
Mr Woodrow Wyatt
, Bosworth
12:00,
4 June 1964
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not allow U Aung Than a visa to visit this country.
Mr Henry Brooke
, Hampstead
I am not satisfied that U Aung Than has either an acceptable travel document or an acceptable motive for wishing to come to this country.
Mr Woodrow Wyatt
, Bosworth
While realising that the Home Secretary has no interest in civil liberty—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—is it not, nevertheless, an extraordinary departure to refuse a political refugee a visa to come to this country simply because the dictator of Burma has asked the Foreign Office for the man to be refused one—[HON. MEMBERS: "0h."]—oh, yes, I have all the information. And hon. Members opposite need not smirk. This is a very serious matter—
Sir Herbert Butcher
, Holland with Boston
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not a fact that all remarks addressed by any hon. Member are directed to the Chair; and that, therefore, suggestions to stop smirking should be immediately withdrawn?
Sir Harry Hylton-Foster
, Cities of London and Westminster
Observations should be addressed to the Chair. Questions should not contain observations of any kind. Let us get on.
Mr Woodrow Wyatt
, Bosworth
I apologise, Mr. Speaker. Will not the Home Secretary look at this matter again, because the dictator of Burma asked the British Foreign Office to refuse this man a visa as a political refugee? He has 800 people under arrest, including most members of previous Governments. He simply does not want the man to come here, because he wishes to curb any kind of Opposition that may be raised in Burma. If President Tshombe could be given a visa, although he had no travel document, why could not this man, who is a very good friend of the British, be given one?
Mr Henry Brooke
, Hampstead
The hon. Member says that he has all the information, but I appear to have a great deal more than he has. Mr. Tshombe was not able to come here until he had a travel document. My concern in this matter is quite simple. U Aung Than has not a travel document, and in those circumstances I am not prepared to agree to his admission.
Mr Woodrow Wyatt
, Bosworth
But does not the Home Secretary remember that when President Tshombe went to Spain he had no travel document, either? There is no rule whatever that prevents the Home Secretary giving someone a visa to come here merely because he has not a proper travel document—he can give the person one himself.
Mr Henry Brooke
, Hampstead
I am not responsible for what the Spanish authorities do—I have quite enough to do controlling entry into this country—and it would be wholly wrong, and contrary to all precedent, if I were to agree to the admission into this country of a person who had no valid passport of his own country, and no acceptable travel document.
Mr Woodrow Wyatt
, Bosworth
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Owing to the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment. It is one of the Home Secretary's usual flops.
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