§ 31. Sir Ralph Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many criminal offences within the United Kingdom the persons concerned, convicted 2506 during the past 12 months, have been foreigners or persons who have been awarded British nationality since 1946.
§ Mr. EdeThe information asked for is not available, as the nationality of persons convicted is not taken into account in the compilation of criminal statistics.
§ Sir R. GlynWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is rather unfair to blame any increase in crime on British subjects if it is proved that there is a large number of people of foreign origin who are carrying out these offences?
§ Mr. EdeI fear that the increase in crime cannot be sufficiently accounted for by making the fullest allowance for what the hon. Gentleman has just said. It seems to me that there is a lapse in the amount of information available, and I am considering whether, in future, statistics something on those lines can be provided.