HC Deb 13 September 1887 vol 321 c490

In reply to Captain COLOMB (Tower Hamlets, Bow, &c),

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

said, that Her Majesty's Government was fully alive to the importance of placing some restriction on the importation of destitute foreigners into this country; but there were many serious difficulties in the way of dealing with it, among them the right of asylum, in this country. It would be unwise for him to say more than that the Government would give the matter their most serious consideration.