HC Deb 07 July 1949 vol 466 cc2318-9
15. Mr. Thomas Reid

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stowaways have arrived in the United Kingdom since the end of the war; from what countries they have come; how many were British subjects; and how the figures compare with prewar average figures.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)

From 7th August, 1945, to 13th June, 1949, 1,397 alien stowaways arrived in the United Kingdom; and 1,514 British stowaways arrived in the United Kingdom in the three years, 1946, 1947 and 1948. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT tables showing the nationality of the alien stowaways and the territories from which the British stowaways came. I regret that figures for the pre-war period are not available.

Mr. Reid

Has my right hon. Friend legal power to repatriate these stowaways?

Mr. Ede

I have legal power to deport alien stowaways, and that is generally done, except when they can prove that they are refugees from political persecution. I have no power to deport stowaways who are British subjects.

Following are the tables:

ALIEN STOWAWAYS
7th August, 1945, to 13th June, 1949
Austrian 1
Belgian 10
Czech 7
Danish 5
Dutch 52
Finnish 99
French 49
German 69
Greek 23
Hungarian 10
Italian 6
Norwegian 19
Polish 107
Portuguese 229
Roumanian 28
Russian 3
Spanish 222
Swedish 18
Swiss 4
Other European Nationals 14
U.S.A. 24
Central American 20
Chinese 2
Egyptian 9
Other non-European Nationals 42
Stateless or Nationality Doubtful 325
Total of Alien Stowaways 1,397

BRITISH STOWAWAYS
1st January, 1946, to 31st December, 1948
From:
Aden and Yemen 30
Barbados 14
British Guiana 15
British Somaliland 45
East Africa 6
Gambia 109
Gold Coast 213
Jamaica 281
Kenya 7
Nigeria 267
Sierra Leone 211
Trinidad 20
Other Territories 296
Total of British Stowaways 1,514

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