§ 79. Captain BARNETTasked the Home Secretary whether Johannes Becker, twenty-six years of age and about 6 ft. high, who applied to the St. Pancras Food Control Committee on the 22nd instant for a food card, has been recently released from the Alexandra Palace or other in-internment camp; whether Becker has been interned since the first month of the War; and whether he has been released at the present juncture to enable him to engage in munitions work or for some other and what reason?
§ 82. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the release of Johannes Becker and his conduct when demanding a food card from the St. Pancras Food Committee; whether he said he had been released in order to make munitions; and whether he will consider the advisability of sending him back again into internment?
§ Mr. HEWINSIn the absence of my right hon. Friend and the illness of the Under-Secretary, I have been asked to answer these questions. The hon. Members are no doubt referring to Friedrich Lebrecht Becker, a German aged thirty, with a British-born wife and fifteen years' residence in this country, who was released under licence on 6th June for special employment on skilled work at Kilburn. Becker was interned at the beginning of the War, subsequently released in November, 1914, and again interned in the summer of 1915. He was licensed to the employment at Kilburn at 1399 the request of the Ministry of Munitions, after consultation with the War Office. I find that he behaved improperly when applying for a food card at the office of the St. Pancras Food Committee, and I am informed that he will be reinterned at once.
§ Mr. BILLINGAre we to understand that he is only being reinterned because of behaving improperly in regard to a food card, and, if that is the reason, why has he been interned on two previous occasions; and will the hon. Gentleman give the actual reason for this German being interned?
§ Mr. HEWINSI think my answer was quite complete, and I do not propose to add anything.