HC Deb 06 June 1918 vol 106 cc1731-2
16. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of British subjects who are at present detained in confinement without trial by the mandate of his Department; and whether it is proposed to restore to all British subjects the full rights of habeas corpus immediately at the conclusion of hostilities?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)

I presume the hon. Member refers to cases of internment under Defence of the Realm Regulation 14B. The number of British subjects at present interned by order of the Secretary of State for the Home Department under that Regulation is sixty-seven, of whom forty-nine are of hostile origin. As regards the last part of the question, the Defence of the Realm Act expressly limits the duration of the powers it confers to the "continuance of the present war."

18. Mr. LEES-SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many resolutions he has received demanding the withdrawal of Regulation 40D of the Defence of the Realm Ace?

Mr. BRACE: I believe that rather more than 200 resolutions to this effect have been received at the Home Office.

Mr. LEES-SMITH: Is the hon. Gentleman going to take any notice of this great number of resolutions?

19. Mr. LEES-SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many women have been convicted under the new Regulation 40D of the Defence of the Realm Act; and in how many of these cases the soldier or sailor concerned gave evidence in the case?

Mr. BRACE

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers on this subject given on 30th May by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to two questions by the hon. Member for North Somerset. I have no general information as to the number of cases nor reports of the evidence in each case.