§ 34. Mr. Pickthornasked the Home Secretary why no explanatory memorandum is attached to the Alien Restriction Order, No. 1317, of 1943; and what is meant by the words in paragraph 1 (i), "An alien coming to the United Kingdom from a place within the United Kingdom"?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe Aliens Order, which operates, as my hon. Friend knows, in time of peace as well as in time of war, provides for the giving of Directions as regards particular aliens or classes of aliens, and it has not been the practice to attach explanatory memoranda to these Directions. A Direction of 6th August, 1942, which applied the landing and embarkation provisions of the Aliens Order to aliens who arrive in the United Kingdom as recruits for one of the Allied Forces contained an exception for those coming from Canada and the United States. I recently decided that this exception was too wide and ought to be limited to members of the military or naval forces of the United States. The new Direction of September, 1943, gives effect to this decision. It is not, however, necessary that these landing and embarkation provisions shall apply to aliens crossing from Northern Ireland to Great Britain or vice versa; and it is for this reason that the Direction contains the words to which my hon. Friend refers in the last part of his Question.
§ Major PetherickWill the right hon. Gentleman continue to be very vigilant? He has promised the House to avoid jargon of this nature appearing in similar 1042 Orders. Will he also watch in future to avoid incomprehensibility of Orders, because many Orders are not easy for the House to understand?
§ Mr. MorrisonI did take the point which the hon. and gallant Member mentions in the last part of his Question. I received an explanation which convinced me it was right, though I am not sure that I could stand a cross-examination on it. I will do what I can in the matter.
§ Sir Harold WebbeWill the Home Secretary now issue a short memorandum explaining his answer?