HC Deb 25 April 1940 vol 360 cc366-7
58. Mr. Keeling

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give an assurance that he will not reverse any decisions by the new advisory committees to intern enemy aliens?

Sir J. Anderson

It would not be practicable or right to delegate to the regional committees powers for the exercise of which the Home Secretary is answerable to Parliament. The advisory committees are appointed to assist me in carrying out my administrative functions and I have no doubt that normally their recommendations will be such as I can accept; but I must retain discretion both to intern an alien and in any proper case to exempt an alien from internment, whether this course has or has not been recommended by an advisory committee.

Mr. Keeling

Does the Home Secretary in any case intend to consult these advisory committees before upsetting their decisions?

Sir J. Anderson

I do not think I ought to pledge myself on that.

Mr. Rhys Davies

In exercising these functions which he has referred to, will the Home Secretary bear in mind the very hard cases of hardship of British-born wives of these aliens?