§ 31. Earl Wintertonasked the Home Secretary whether, in order to remove doubts in the public mind, he will make a further statement regarding the extortion by touting agents of exorbitant fees from interned aliens, and indicating that in a proper case it may be advantageous for an alien, if he so desires, to seek the ad vice of a reputable solicitor for the purpose of preparing his application for release from internment?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonYes, Sir. The persons to whose activities I referred in my previous statement are mostly what may be conveniently described as touting agents and are neither practising solicitors nor employed by solicitors. I stated that the majority of solicitors are acting quite properly and that, so far as the Home Office is concerned, no objection can be 2080 taken to solicitors acting for aliens in proper cases and charging reasonable fees. The point which I was anxious to make clear is that no preferential treatment is secured from the Home Office by applications made through solicitors or agents over applications made directly by the aliens themselves.