HC Deb 24 April 1941 vol 371 c242
14. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the long period of their detention, arrangements can be made for husbands, wives and children, detained under Regulation 18B to live together?

Mr. H. Morrison

I am afraid that in present circumstances it is impracticable, on security and other grounds, to arrange for married quarters to be provided for husbands and wives who are both detained under Regulation 18B. There are no children so detained.

Mr. Davies

While it may be the right thing to detain these people, will my right hon. Friend look into the matter again, because this is a very serious matter for the people concerned?

Mr. Morrison

I will not entirely close my mind on the point, but there are real difficulties. Moreover, there would be some cases of inequality as between cases where both husband and wife are interned and cases where only one is interned and where they are separated anyway.

Commander Bower

Has my right hon. Friend not yet had time to ameliorate the punitive conditions under which so many people against whom no charge has been preferred, are detained?

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that that is a subject raised by the Question on the Paper.