§ 29. Sir Irving Alberyasked the Home Secretary whether steps will be taken to bring entirely under the administration of the Home Office all friendly aliens interned in this country; and whether a special commissioner can be appointed to deal with this problem in all its aspects?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)It is hoped at an early date to review the existing arrangements; but it would not be practicable for the Home Office in present circumstances to take over responsibility for the custody of all internees, and the immediate problem would not be solved by the appointment of a special commissioner. Use must be made of the military organisation for making swift arrangements for the accommodation and custody of large numbers of men.
§ Mr. ManderIs not the present overlapping between the Home Office and the War Office extremely unsatisfactory, and is it not about time that one person was placed in charge of the whole arrangements for internment?
§ Mr. PeakeIt is possible that the hon. Member will have a chance of expressing his views later in the day on the Motion for the Adjournment.
§ Mr. SilvermanCan the hon. Gentleman say, when he tells us that the arrangements are to be reviewed, whether there will be included in that revision a policy by which these people are indiscriminately interned, or is the review concerned only with what happens to them after detention has been effected?
§ Mr. PeakeThere is no prospect at present of any review covering general policy. As regards the internment review, I indicated in my answer that it would apply to those in internment camps.
§ Mr. SilvermanIn view of the considerable public feeling expressed in this country, does not the hon. Gentleman feel that the time has now come when the general policy ought to be reviewed?
§ Mr. PeakeThere again the hon. Member will have an opportunity of bringing the matter forward on the Motion for the Adjournment this evening.