§ 35 Commander Nobleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (r) how many police constables arid officers of Customs, respectively, there are in the Falkland Islands Dependencies;
(2) the total sum deposited by prohibited immigrants into the Falkland Islands Dependencies since 1st January, 1947, in accordance with Section 4 of the Falkland Islands Immigration (Restrictions) Ordinance, 1936;
(3) on how many occasions since 1st January, 1947, have the master, owner, or agent of any ship landing prohibited immigrants in the Falkland Islands Dependencies been called upon for all expenses incurred by the Government in this connection, in accordance with Section 6 of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Immigration (Restrictions) Ordinance, 1936.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThere are one police officer, and one and sometimes two Customs officers in the Falkland Islands Dependencies. In existing circumstances it has not proved practicable to apply the provisions of the Immigration (Restriction) Ordinance to which the hon. and gallant Member refers.
§ Commander NobleWould it not have been much easier if these prohibited immigrants had been dealt with as they came along?
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsIt is a question of who was on the spot to deal with them. There is only one policeman in this area, and if a battleship or other naval ship comes along he is in some difficulty.
§ Commander NobleThen what is the point of applying these regulations to the Dependencies if people are not able to carry them out?
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThese were intended for a smaller and perhaps more irregular number of people than in this case. They were not intended to provide for meeting a President.