§ 75. Brigadier-General Spearsasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to a recent case in which a 1906 German Jew escaped to this country without a landing permit, and that the magistrate refused to make the order for deportation asked for by the police; and on whose instructions the police ask that German Jews should be sent back to Germany?
§ Sir S. HoareAs the case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers is the subject of judicial proceedings which have not yet been concluded, I must defer any comment on the facts of this case. There is, of course, no instruction to the police to ask that German Jews should be sent back to Germany, but if the policy of admitting to this country a number of selected refugees is to be maintained, it is essential that no countenance should be given to irregular and illegal methods of entry.
§ Brigadier-General SpearsIs it not the fact that in this particular case the police asked that this man should be sent back?
§ Sir S, HoareI have just said that I cannot comment on a case which is sub judice.
§ Mr. MesserIs it not true that the magistrates cannot make an order, but can only recommend?
§ Sir S. HoareYes, Sir, that is the case. The Secretary of State makes the order.
§ 79. Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Home Secretary whether, in accordance with his undertaking, he has now decided to issue a periodical statement as to the number of refugees admitted to, and evacuated from, this country?
§ Sir S. HoareI hope that it will shortly be possible to prepare a statistical summary with regard to refugees who have been admitted to and left the United Kingdom.
§ Wing-Commander JamesWill my right hon. Friend recall the reply which he gave on 26th November on this subject and consider issuing a periodical report so that people in this country may know where we stand?
§ Sir S. HoareYes, Sir, I will consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.
§ Mr. PrittWould it be possible to have some particulars of the amount of work actually created in this country by the refugees?
§ Sir S. HoareI have noted the suggestion, but I think it would be difficult to include such information in a statistical form of this kind.
81. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the plight of refugees desirous of coming to this country as transmigrants on their way to Canada, the United States, and other countries who are threatened with loss of property and liberty unless they leave their present domicile before an earlier date; and whether some relaxation of existing British restrictions as to the issue of the visa can be made in favour of such transmigrants?
§ Sir S. HoareI am most anxious that no difficulties should be placed in the way of granting transit visas to refugees for whom admission to some overseas country is available and special arrangements have already been introduced by the Home Office, in co-operation with the voluntary organisations, for the immediate grant of visas in such cases.