§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state in what respect the Returns of Aliens arriving in this country laid every month upon the Table are not strictly accurate; and if he can inform the House from what source the figures are derived, and if there is any penalty for a false Return; and further, to what classes of persons the Returns apply, and in the case of the aliens arriving at Newhaven how the information is obtained.
(Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) I am not aware of any particular in which the Returns of Aliens are inaccurate, and every endeavour is made to secure their accuracy. The figures are derived from lists of alien passengers furnished to the Customs authorities by masters of vessels arriving from European ports at the twenty-nine ports in this country of which the hon. and gallant Member will find a list in the monthly Return laid before the House. The lists obtained at five of these ports which are specified in the Return are exclusive of saloon passengers. A penalty for a false Return is provided by Section 2 of the Act 6, William 4, cap. xi., under which the Returns are collected. The information 1374 is obtained at Newhaven, as at other ports, in accordance with the provisions of the Act.