§ 78. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Home Secretary if he will inform the House how many formerly-interned Germans have been repatriated, how many liberated in this country, and how many remain in internment; and whether any enemy aliens have been admitted to this country since the Armistice?
§ Mr. SHORTTLast week's figures showed that since the Armistice about 10,000 Germans had been repatriated from the internment camps, and 10,517 Germans were left in the camps. During the same period 40 Germans had been liberated in this country, of whom 38 were released towards the end of last year at the instance of the Advisory Committee, on whose advice they had been provisionally interned pending the detailed examination of their cases. The other two were released this year on medical grounds.
The rule has been throughout the War, and still is, to refuse admission to this country to alien enemies. Exceptions have been made in the case of British-born widows of alien enemies who desire to return here and resume their British nationality, and in the case of two or three persons technically of enemy nationality but of friendly race or sympathies, who at the request of the Foreign Office were authorised to pay short visits to this country.
§ 84. Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary the number of camps which now exist with interned alien enemies; if 1088 he will also state the present number of alien enemies that are interned in these camps, with their nationalities; and if he will state what action the Government propose in order that these camps may be closed at an early date and the country saved further expense in the matter?
§ Mr. SHORTTThere are still six internment camps for enemy civilians, one of which is now being closed. On 8th March the number of alien enemies interned was 12,685, divided as follows:
| Germans | 10,517 |
| Austrians | 2,081 |
| Turks | 72 |
| Bulgarians | 15 |
§ The interned men are being repatriated as quickly as shipping can be made available, and camps will be closed as soon as they can be vacated.