§ 20. Mr. Ammonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Somalis from British Somaliland are compelled, when visiting this country, to register as aliens and report to the police?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)Natives of the Somaliland Protectorate, in common with natives of all other British Protectorates, are not British subjects as defined in the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914. Their status is that of British protected persons, and they are accordingly subject to the provisions of the Aliens Order, 1920, and, if seamen, to the provisions of the Special Restriction (Coloured Alien Seamen) Order, 1925.
Mr. Creech JonesIn view of this anomaly with regard to protected subjects, will the Minister see that the passport system is abolished altogether and that these people are given their normal rights as British subjects?
§ Mr. LloydIt must be remembered that these people are aliens under Statute but great efforts are made to deal with them as well as possible.
§ Mr. AmmonAre not the Government getting it both ways, as these people were compulsorily conscripted for the War, and we have a British Governor-General in British Somaliland and have recently established judicial machinery?