HC Deb 19 November 1940 vol 365 cc1820-1
37. Mr. G. Strauss

asked the Home Secretary whether any arrangement has yet been reached with the Australian authorities for sending to that country the wives of internees previously sent there and thereby fulfilling the undertaking given by His Majesty's Government at the time?

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)

I would refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to a Question on this subject by the right hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Wedgwood) on 13th November. My right hon. Friend is not yet able to add to that reply.

Mr. Strauss

Is the problem likely to be solved during the next month or two, because the Government have always been taken to mean that wives would be sent there fairly soon after the internees?

Mr. Peake

Certainly, Sir. My right hon. Friend expects to be able to make a statement very shortly.

38. Mr. Silverman

asked the Home Secretary whether the advisory committee advising him on conditions in refugee places of detention has made any recommendations; and whether they have been acted upon?

Mr. Peake

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the Council on Aliens presided over by Lord Lytton. The Council has submitted a number of recommendations with regard to the conditions in internment camps, many of which are already being acted upon.

Mr. Silverman

Would it be convenient to make those recommendations available to the House in a document showing when they were made, which of them have been carried out, and when they were carried out?

Mr. Peake

I will consider that suggestion. This council was appointed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and is an advisory body.

42. Miss Rathbone

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements are made for aliens interned in Canada to receive pocket-money from their own resources or from refugee organisations; and whether such persons can be allowed to have money transmitted to them at least up to the limit of the amount which voluntary emigrants to Canada are allowed to take with them?

Mr. Peake

I am informed that any moneys which were standing to the credit of an internee's camp account in this country have been remitted to Canada, and an internee in Canada can be sent money to be credited to his camp account by persons or refugee organisations in Canada. As regards the second part of the Question, the matter is still being examined, and my right hon. Friend is not at present in a position to make a statement.

Miss Rathbone

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, as many of these people went to Canada very soon after their internment—and many of them ought never to have been sent, as is now admitted—they ought to be allowed, whether or not they have credits to their accounts in the internment camp, to receive greater financial facilities, as otherwise they are subject to considerable hardships?