HC Deb 21 February 1907 vol 169 cc1038-9
Viscount CASTLEREAGH (Maidstone)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the reasons for which leave to land was refused, under the Aliens Act, 1905, by immigration officers, are classified in the Return presented to Parliament, only under the two headings Want of means, etc., and Medical grounds; and whether, as such headings do not give any exact information as to the operation of the Act, particularly with reference to persons sentenced in a foreign country for crime, and persons against who man expulsion order under the Act has been made, he will adopt another system of classification in future Returns.

THE SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (MR. Gladstone,) Leeds, W.

In my opinion the classification in question gives the most exact information possible as to the operation of the Act in regard to refusals of leave to land, inasmuch as the refusals have, so far, all fallen under paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of the first section of the Act, which deal respectively with want of means and medical grounds. If, and when, a refusal occurs under paragraphs (c) and (d), that is to say, in a case where a conviction of an extradition crime or the existence of an expulsion order is proved against an alien, it will of course be shown.

VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH asked as to certain figures in the Return.

*MR SPEAKER

Order, order. The right hon. Gentleman could not possibly carry all those figures in his head.