§ 42. Mr. Sorensenasked the Home Secretary why no representative of any refugee organisation has been appointed to the tribunal dealing with applications from Italians for release from internment; whether he will appoint a representative similar to the one acting on the tribunal for German and Austrian applications; and whether he is aware that anti-Fascist Italians are still interned although some prominent Italian Fascists in London are free?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI think that my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. My object in appointing members of the various Advisory Committees is to select persons of balanced judgment and experience in affairs, and not to appoint persons to represent special interests. As regards the last part of the Question, it is open to any Italian to apply for release if he comes within one of the categories of eligibility set out in the White Paper. I have no information to suggest that prominent Italian Fascists in London are free, but I should be glad to consider any information in the possession of my hon. Friend.
§ 62. Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Divisional Controller, Ministry of Labour wrote, on 26th October, confirming that the application of Jacob Wolloch had already been sent to the North Western Area Board; and what is the reason for this five months delay in getting this key man back to his job?
§ Mr. MorrisonAs I informed my right hon. Friend on nth February, in reply to a previous Question about Mr. Jacob Wolloch, I am looking into the case and will communicate with him as soon as possible. The suggestion that the certificate required for the purpose of category 6 of the White Paper was furnished to the Home Office in October last is mistaken.
§ Mr. WedgwoodIs my right hon. Friend aware that the request came from the Divisional Controller of the Ministry of Labour?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir; the Home Office, as my right hon. Friend will appreciate, can take into consideration such requests only if they come from a State Department, and my right hon. Friend, I think, is wrong in stating that, according to his information, the original move came from the local Divisional Controller of the Ministry of Labour. But it would have to go higher up before it reached the Home Office.