§ 25. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons other than Irish citizens were imprisoned without previously being charged before magistrates or other Courts of Justice during the years 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923; and if he will inform the House under what Act of Parliament or official orders such persons were imprisoned without first being brought to trial?
The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Bridge-man)I am not aware of any powers existing during the years mentioned under which any persons were or could have been imprisoned without being previously charged before magistrates except those special emergency powers under which the persons referred to were dealt with or the power under the Aliens Order, 1920, in the case of aliens awaiting deportation. Under the latter power the numbers of persons detained for the years mentioned were: 1920, 37; 1921, 43; 1922, 24; 1923 (six months), 5.
Captain BENNIs any report made to the House of Commons showing how these powers have been exercised by the authorities?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNot that I am aware of.
§ 29. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Home Secretary if he will state how long Toni Tollagearn Tjorn, a Swedish subject, was detained in prison previous to his discharge and deportation to Petrograd on 19th January, 1923; and what was the nature of the charges against this man?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThis man was in custody in this country from 14th October, 1922, when he arrived here on deportation from Australia, till 19th January, 1923, when arrangements could be completed for his journey to Russia, where he wished to go. I have no reason to think that he was a Swede. He had a Norwegian passport which did not belong to him. He was not prosecuted for carrying a false passport or for any other offence; but he could not be allowed to land here, and had to be detained in custody until the case (which was one of some difficulty) could be sufficiently cleared up to enable me to arrange for his removal.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay we take it that as this man was in custody he was being deported somewhere? What was the reason for the delay of three months, during which he was in one of our prisons?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANBecause he was deported from Australia—
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhere to?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI imagine he was going to Russia, but he landed here, and we had to arrange with the country to which he was being deported to see if they would receive him.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask whether any application was made to Russia to accept him, and whether it is the custom of the right hon. Gentleman's Department, under the Aliens' Act, to lay hands on anyone whom they think is suspect, and keep him in prison; because the other night the right hon. Gentleman told us that he did not do this sort of thing?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThis man landed here without any right to do so. He was deported from Australia, and ought to have gone on.
§ Mr. LANSBURYHow could he go on? Why did you not let him go on?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am only anxious to let him go on.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhy did you stop him? It is sheer lunacy!
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not a conversazione.