HC Deb 14 March 1906 vol 153 cc1239-42
MR. S. COLLINS (Lambeth, Kennington)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps for the immediate provision of a receiving house for the accommodation of persons detained at ports under the Aliens Act.

* MR. GLADSTONE

I have no power under the Act to provide such a receiving-house. The responsibility of dealing with alien immigrants from whom leave to land is withheld is left by the Act with the shipping companies or shipmasters who bring them. In some ports receiv-houses have been established by the companies concerned, and I have continually urged and will urge the London companies to join in establishing a receiving house for London.

SIR W. EVANS-GORDON (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department upon what grounds and evidence the new regulations providing for the admission of all persons coming to this country from disturbed parts of Europe have been framed.

* MR. GLADSTONE

No such regulations have been made. The instructions issued to Immigration Officers and the advice to Immigration Boards are only that they should give the benefit of the doubt, where any doubt exists, to persons coming from disturbed parts of Europe who claim the privileges of a refugee.

SIR W. EVANS-GORDON

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to lay upon the Table a Copy of the revised Rules under the provisions of the Aliens Act; and, if so, when the House will be placed in possession of them.

* MR. GLADSTONE

There has been no revision of the rules. I have revoked one existing Order, viz., that fixing the number twelve as the number which constitutes a ship an immigrant ship, and I have in draft a single new rule dealing with the admission of the Press to Board meetings. I have no objection to laying both these on the Table, together with copies of all the existing rules and Orders. I will also lay a copy of the letter I have just addressed to Immigration Boards, and a copy of the instructions I have just issued to Immigration Officers.

MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)

Is it the intention of the Government to introduce legislation amending the Aliens Act?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! Notice must be given of that Question.

SIR. GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his decision to give full benefit of the doubt to any Russian emigrant who alleges that he fears persecution at home will be extended to all Russian subjects who reach this country from non-Russian ports.

MR. GLADSTONE

Cases must be decided on their individual merits by Immigration Officers and Boards.

SIR GILBERT PARKER

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Macedonia, Hungary, the Turkish Empire, Roumania, Bulgaria, and Spain are included among the countries specified by the Home Secretary as being disturbed, and from which free access of aliens will be permitted to this country.

* R. GLADSTONE

I specified no country. My remarks were intended to apply to any country where it appears for the time being that serious political disturbances are taking place.

MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

How does the right hon. Gentleman propose to obtain the information as to the disturbed countries?

* MR. GLADSTONE

It is a matter of commonsense and common knowledge.

MR. CLAUDE HAY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of his intention to extend the hospitality of these shores to all foreign persons who allege they are suffering from religious or political persecution, he will take the necessary measures to prevent such persons from becoming a burden upon the poor districts of the great cities of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and to prevent the hospitality extended to foreigners who allege they are distressed becoming a charge upon the national funds.

* MR. GLADSTONE

I can only say that I have expressed no such intention.

MR. CLAUDE HAY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the uncorroborated statement of an alien immigrant is to be accepted, under the new regulations of the Aliens Act he has announced, that he or she comes from a disturbed country or a disturbed district of a foreign country.

MR. GLADSTONE

I have never suggested that this should be done, nor have I ever made any regulation to this effect.