HC Deb 23 October 1941 vol 374 cc1907-8
61. Mr. David Adams

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the number of persons interned in Jamaica, together with the respective nationalities of the same; and by what date it is anticipated the new Advisory Committee will have completed its examination of these internees?

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. George Hall)

The number of persons interned in Jamaica, including captured merchant seamen and internees transferred to Jamaica from other territories, is 1,055. Of these, 1,036 are enemy nationals, 11 are British subjects, three Norwegian, two Swedish, one Dutch and two of uncertain nationality. As regards the second part of the Question, the new Advisory Committee is appointed under the Jamaica Defence Regulation equivalent to United Kingdom Regulation I8B and it deals only with the cases of persons detained under that Regulation. Enemy nationals are interned under the prerogative, and of the 19 other persons detained in Jamaica, only 11 are detained under that Regulation. The amended Regulation allows persons detained under it since 16th March, 1941, to have their cases considered by the new Committee which has now completed its examination of these cases.

Mr. Adams

In view of the fact that many of the internees who can come before the new Committee have been interned for many months without any charge against them, is it expected that they will come before the new Committee at an early date?

Mr. Hall

All the persons eligible to be heard by the new Committee have been heard.

Mr. Creech Jones

Can the date be made retrospective, and is it possible for the enemy aliens to be brought before some tribunal in order to terminate their present detention?

Mr. Hall

We are now considering the question of making the applications retrospective, that is to say, making the date earlier than 16th March. With regard to the other matter, many of the enemy aliens have been heard by Advisory Committees in the territories from which they have been transferred.

Miss Eleanor Rathbone

Is there separation of the Nazi and anti-Nazi internees in Jamaica, as it is still being asserted that they are being put together?

Mr. Hall

I cannot say at the moment, but I will make inquiries and let the hon. Lady know.