§ 6. Mr. John Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Rolf Merz, of Ulm/Donau, Wuerttemburg, 2000 United States zone, Germany, advised the immigration officer at Dover that he was on a visit to a Bolton family; if Mr. Merz's documents were in order to enable him to make the visit; and why no steps were taken by the immigration authorities at Dover to obtain information from the police department in Bolton in order to satisfy themselves that a genuine visit was intended.
§ Mr. EdeThe answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the immigration officer was satisfied from his interrogation of Mr. Merz that his real purpose was to seek work and settle in the United Kingdom, and the Bolton police could have thrown no light on this aspect of the matter.
§ Mr. LewisIn view of the fact that the British authorities in Frankfurt had granted a visa for this German youth to visit a Bolton family, and in view of the fact that he explained his position to them when he arrived at Dover, why were not proper steps taken by the immigration authorities to see whether or not the real intention was to visit this family or to seek work?
§ Mr. EdeThe answers that he gave when he was interrogated at Dover made it quite clear that his intention of coming here was not to pay a short visit but to seek work, and, if possible, to remain here permanently.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Home Secretary aware that the immigration authorities asked this lad if he would like to work in England if he had the opportunity? This question was asked after a lot of other questions had been put to him. That would not mean that the purpose of his visit was to stay in this country and seek work.