§ 18. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked, in view of the fact that many alien enemies have registered themselves as alien friends or neutrals, whether all aliens on registration are required to produce proof of their nationality; and if any language or other test is applied in cases where fraudulent registration is suspected?
§ Sir J. SIMONI shall be glad if the hon. Baronet will let me see the information on which he bases his question. The information at the command of the Home Office is to a different effect. The burden of proving his nationality rests with the alien. The police have been specially instructed that they should insist on definite evidence of nationality being produced in any case where there is ground to doubt the bona fides of an alien who has registered as of friendly or neutral nationality; and in April last they were told carefully to review the registers and make sure that no such case had escaped notice.
§ 19. Sir J. LONSDALEasked how many alien enemies are now residing in the Brighton area; and how many have been interned or repatriated since the 13th May last?
§ Sir J. SIMONIn the Brighton area, there are four male enemy aliens and 141 female enemy aliens. Of the four male enemy aliens, three are over eighty years of age; the fourth is a blind invalid. The hon. Baronet will therefore see that the question of internment does not arise. Of the 141 females, ninety-nine are British born; the remainder will in due course be repatriated unless any of them apply for and obtain exemption from the Advisory Committee.
§ 21. Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Home Secretary if his attention had been directed to the case of a German waiter named Helmuth Ahlgrion, who was fined £25 at the Thames Police Court on Tuesday for failing to notify his change of business address and unlawfully having in his possession 598 military maps or plans of places on the East Coast, Aldershot, and the docks; and if he will state why this person has not been interned and if he is to be allowed to remain at liberty upon payment of the fine?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe alien mentioned was fined £25 for not notifying a change of residence. He was not charged with having maps in his possession, as those found in his room were old maps not belonging to him and of no military use or significance. He has now been interned.
§ 22. Mr. WATTasked the Home Secretary how many days the Advisory Committee dealing with the questions of internment and repatriation of aliens resident in England have sat, and with how many cases they have dealt; and how many days the similar Committee dealing with aliens resident in Scotland have sat, and with how many cases they have dealt?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe Committee which deals with these questions in England and Wales has already sat on fifteen days, exclusive of a preliminary meeting, and has dealt with 2,496 cases. Exemption has been refused in 1,496 cases and granted in 340 cases. In the remaining 660 cases further reports have been called for. The latter part of the question should be addressed to the Secretary for Scotland.