Mr. MITCHELLTHOMSONasked whether the amended departmental instructions issued under the Aliens Act provide that the possession by the immigrant of £5 is to be taken as satisfactory evidence of means; whether he is aware that certain agencies make a practice of lending the necessary sum to immigrants for the purpose of exhibition to the immigration inspector; and whether steps can be taken to prevent this evasion of the Act?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)The answer to the first question is in the negative. As regards the second and third questions, I am aware that some immigrants, when inspected on arrival in this country, show to the immigration officer sums of money which there is reason to think they have been given expressly for that purpose: but the practice is so well known to those officers and to the Immigration Boards that it cannot deceive, and it does not lead to evasions of the Act calling for any special steps on my part.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENWill the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to prevent foreign immigrants from England coming into the county of Down as Members of Parliament?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am afraid' I can only avail myself of the existing prohibitions of the law.