Irish and Commonwealth Citizens

HC Deb 09 November 1961 vol 648 c1156

26. Mr. Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Irish and Commonwealth citizens have been bound over or placed under suspended sentence on condition that they leave the United Kingdom.

Mr. Fletcher-Cooke

This information could not be provided without special inquiries which would involve an unreasonably large expenditure of time and labour.

Mr. Lipton

Does that Answer mean that the hon. Gentleman admits that such orders have been made and that Irish and Commonwealth citizens in a number of cases have been deported in this rather unusual way?

Mr. Fletcher-Cooke

Yes, of course such orders have been made and indeed their legality has been confirmed, but they are somewhat blunt instruments. The offender is not compelled to leave the country but is given a sort of choice between departure and some other penalty. It is very difficult to prevent him from coming back.

Mr. Lipton

In that case what is the point of making the order?