§ 22. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Home Secretary how many Russian subjects have been arrested and imprisoned in this country without trial; and the shortest and longest term of imprisonment such prisoners have undergone before deportation or release?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have some difficulty in guessing what information the hon. Member seeks in this question. The best answer I can give is, I think, the number of deportation orders made and enforced against aliens of Russian extraction without recommendation from the convicting Court, namely, since the War to the present time, 57. None of these Russians deported during my term of office has been detained in prison in these circumstances.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWould it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to tell the House the period of detention without trial which Tchitcherin, Litvinoff and Borodin underwent in this country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt was, of course, before my time, but, if the hon. Member presses for it, and puts a question down, I will do my best to give him an answer.
§ Mr. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman enlighten the House as to how 1898 many Socialists have been put in prison without trial by the Soviet Government, and probably are still there?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a question of which notice should be given.