§ 36. Mr. Blackburnasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now initiate legislation to give him power to deport from Great Britain citizens of the British Commonwealth and Empire, not born in these islands, who have been convicted of crimes involving violence, fraud, or living on immoral earnings.
§ Mr. EdeAny extension of my powers to deport aliens which would empower me to deport also British subjects, or certain classes of British subjects, would open wide issues of such grave importance to Commonwealth interests that I am not prepared to make any proposals for this purpose at the present time.
§ Mr. BlackburnWhile fully appreciating the constitutional point which the Home Secretary has raised, may I ask whether it is not a fact that a great deal of trouble is caused to the police today, not only in London, but elsewhere, by the fact that this small minority of British subjects, not born in this country, who are pimps or guilty of crimes of violence for which they have been convicted, cannot be deported?
§ Mr. EdeNo. I examined this matter when this issue was raised some months ago and there is no proof that these people, in proportion to their numbers, give the police more trouble than the native-born population.