HC Deb 03 July 1905 vol 148 cc790-1
MR. CHURCHILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the resolutions relating to the Aliens Bill passed on the 28th June at a meeting of citizens held in the Midland Hotel, Manchester, presided over by the Conservative candidate for North-West Manchester and supported by many gentlemen of both political Parties; whether he is aware that these resolutions urged upon His Majesty's Government the need to amend the Bill (1) to secure the same express exemption to victims of religious persecution as is accorded to victims of political persecution; (2) to give the right of appeal to the ordinary Courts of law to persons refused permission to land, or who, having been allowed to land, are threatened with expulsion from the country, or to shipping companies to be burdened with the expenses of their maintenance and reshipment; (3) to prevent an expulsion order being made on grounds so trivial as "living under insanitary conditions due to overcrowding"; and (4) to relieve the shipping companies of the cost of maintaining and returning aliens who, having been permitted to land, are subsequently expelled for reasons over which the shipping companies have no control; whether, having regard to the fact that these resolutions were passed at a nonparty meeting not opposed to the general principle of excluding undesirable aliens by law, His Majesty's Government will endeavour to introduce the desired modifications into the Bill during its passage through the Committee stage.

MR. SPEAKER

I do not think the Question comes within the rule relating to Questions which can be asked after five minutes to three o'clock, which must be urgent and relate to the business of the House.

MR. CHURCHILL

Some of the matters touched upon will be discussed this afternoon.

MR. SPEAKER

If that is so it will be open to the hon. Member to put the Questions then.

MR. CHURCHILL

My reason for putting them now is that it will probably be the only time when the Prime Minister will be accessible.