§ 60. Mr. Manderasked the Home Secretary the number of appeals that have been heard by the Home Office Advisory Committee on Aliens and the number of appeals which are now pending; to what extent these appeals are from the decisions of the tribunals; and whether the tribunals themselves are giving reconsideration to the cases of those to whom A and B certificates have been granted, and to what extent?
§ Sir J. AndersonHitherto the advisory committees have been dealing with persons interned under Regulation 18E and with enemy aliens interned on the outbreak of war, and they have dealt with 92 such cases. As regards enemy aliens who have been interned after examination by the tribunals, it is not contemplated that as regards all or most of these cases a further examination by the advisory committee shall be undertaken; but, if representations are made to me by or on behalf of any alien so interned, such representations will be carefully considered, and I have arranged that any doubtful cases shall be referred to the advisory committees, so that I may have the benefit of a report from them. As regards the second part of the question, I have no information at present as to the number of cases in which tribunals may think it desirable to reconsider cases of persons whom they had not exempted from the special restrictions in the Aliens Order applicable to enemy aliens.
§ Mr. ManderIs it the case that no instructions have been given to the tribunal to re-hear cases of that kind?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe tribunals were informed in a circular that it was open to them to reconsider any cases they have dealt with.
Miss RathboneIs the right hon Gentleman aware that in the case of a very large number of people who have been given B certificates, if the tribunals 1397 desire to reconsider their cases, that cannot be done because many of the cases were dealt with before the Home Office issued the B certificate?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have sent the hon. Member a further letter explaining the exact circumstances.