§ 20. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the retention of British subjects in internment under Regulation 18B, in view of the unity of the British people, the small number of internees involved, and the capacity of the police and military authorities to keep in touch with their movements and supervise their activities if freed?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)The case of every person detained under the Regulation is kept under review, and release is authorised in any case as soon as I am satisfied that it is no longer necessary, in the interests of national security, to continue detention. The much-reduced number of persons who are now so detained is a measure of the extent to which this policy has already been followed.
§ Sir T. MooreWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that these British subjects have been interned without trial nearly three years? Does he not consider that the time has come when, at any rate, it will be possible to have a complete revision, preferably by a new tribunal, of all the cases?
§ Mr. MorrisonComplete revisions are going on continuously, with the consequence that hundreds have been released. My hon. and gallant Friend says that 842 they have been detained three years, but the war is still proceeding, and we must still consider national security.
§ Sir T. MooreDoes my right hon. Friend not think that the fact that it has been found possible to release a considerable number means that they should not have been interned?
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not accept that for a moment.
§ Mr. PriceIf the war situation gets more favourable for the Allies, will my right hon. Friend review these cases more favourably?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat is exactly what I have been doing. The military factor has been a factor in considering releases, and it will be.