§ 11. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Home Secretary the reasons for the deportation of two Russians, Edward Getz and Joseph Kilnas, and the wife and children of Kilnas; when these men came to this country; how long they had lived here; whether either of them had children born here and, if so, how many; and the ages of the children at the time of deportation?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI decided to make deportation orders in respect of the two aliens referred to and their wives because after careful consideration I was satisfied that it was in the public interest. Getz had been in this country since 1912 and has no children. Kilnas had been here since 1898 and has seven British-born children, of whom the two eldest are married; the ages of the other five range from 16 to seven. I may add that both Getz and Kilnas were unemployed and in receipt of parish relief, and the latter had expressed a wish to return to Russia with his wife and their five youngest children.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn view of the fact that one of these men has been here for 13 years and the other for 27 years, how did it come about that the right hon. Gentleman's Department 550 issued a statement that these men came over from Russia as Bolshevist agents?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am afraid I have not seen the statement. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will let me have it, I will inquire into it.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I further ask, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that it was necessary that these young children, British-born, should be sent out of this country for the safety of the British Empire?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSCertainly not! I have no power to send British-born children out of the country. It was at the express wish of this man that these children were allowed to accompany him. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] We paid for their journey to Russia.