§ Mr. GOULDINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state when the Report of His Majesty's inspector under the Aliens Act for the year 1910 will be in the hands of Members?
§ The UNDER - SECRETARY for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Masterman)The Report is in an advanced stage of preparation, and is being pressed forward with all possible speed. The inspector hopes to submit it to me very shortly, and I shall present it to Parliament without delay.
§ Mr. FELLasked if there is any agreement or arrangement with the shipowners who bring alien emigrants into this country that they will take them back again at their own expense if the emigrants are for any reason rejected on arrival, even if such aliens have been allowed to land pending the decision as to their being undesirables or not?
§ Mr. MASTERMANUnder the Aliens Act, 1905, in all cases in which an alien immigrant is refused leave to land it rests with the master of the ship which brought him to this country to dispose of him after such refusal.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. FELLasked if any search is now made in the baggage of aliens arriving in this country at scheduled ports for Mauser rifles, pistols, daggers, stilettos, and other weapons; whether they are confiscated if discovered; and if the aliens trying to introduce them are pronounced to be undesirable and are refused permission to land?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThere is no power in the Aliens Act, 1905, for immigration officers to search the baggage of alien immigrants, and the possession of arms by any such aliens is not among the considerations which, under Section 1 (3) of 1385 the Act, may subject him to refusal of leave to land as an undesirable immigrant. I hope this matter may be dealt with when the law is amended.
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is not examined under the 1905 Act.