51. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Prime Minister if the Government have the power, and intends to exercise it, to prevent people of neutral nationalities, no matter how desirable under ordinary circumstances, from landing in the United Kingdom, unless they are connected with War contracts or are only landing for the purpose of passing through, until the supply of food becomes greater than the demand for it?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir G. Cave): My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Before any alien can come to this country at the present time he has to pass the scrutiny of a British Consul abroad, and on arrival here has to satisfy the Aliens Officer at the port that his admission is desirable in present circumstances. The result is that the volume of alien passenger traffic to the United Kingdom is now so small as to have practically no bearing on the question of the food supply.