HC Deb 18 June 1891 vol 354 cc801-2
MR. BYRON REED (Bradford, E.)

I wish to ask the Secretary of State for the Homo Department a question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether the Alien Act of William IV. is still in force, and whether, if that be so, it is provided in that Act that foreign aliens landing at ports in the United Kingdom are required to produce passports, and that Custom House officers are required to keep a register of their names, numbers and nationalities? I wish to know if these provisions are still in force; and, if so, whether a Return will be laid on the Table of the House showing the numbers and nationalities of aliens arriving at our ports?

MR. MATTHEWS

I must ask the hon. Member for time before I can undertake to answer the points raised in his question. I only received notice of it when I came into the House.

MR. BYRON REED

I will put the question down for to-morrow.

MR. SUMMERS

Can the Home Secretary inform the House why the Reports of Foreign Governments on factory legislation were not printed and circulated before the Factory and Workshops Bill was taken?

MR. MATTHEWS

There is a Paper containing the information the hon. Member desires in the Vote Office.