HC Deb 18 April 1940 vol 359 cc1116-7
61. Sir A. Knox

asked the Home Secretary whether refugee tribunals are in the habit of calling the sponsors before the court?

Sir J. Anderson

It is open to the regional advisory committees to invite any person to appear before them who, they consider, is in a position to give any useful information about an alien, and it is, of course, important that when the committee's decision is likely to be affected by information given by some person who is acquainted with the alien, the committee should take steps to satisfy themselves as to the reliability of the informant and as to the degree of his personal knowledge of the alien. This point is well appreciated by the chairmen of these committees.

Sir A. Knox

Is it not true that very seldom the sponsors are called in front of these committees, and that these people are passed off-hand without proper inquiry?

Sir J. Anderson

No, Sir. These committees have only recently begun their work.

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