§ Sir G. STRICKLANDasked the Home Secretary whether he has received any information showing the existence of an international agency facilitating the use of false passports and giving information as to how aliens may enter in evasion of existing safeguards; how many aliens, over and above the figure given in the 1921 census, have entered this country since the date thereof; why are foreigners under 16 not required to have passports; what evidence is required as to being under that age; and in how many cases in the last year have the regulations with regard to declaration of nationality as required by the 1920 Order been dispensed with?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am aware that there are agencies or means in existence of forging or otherwise falsifying passports, but I would point out that a passport does not in itself act as a ticket of entry into this country. The number of alien passengers (excluding transmigrants) who were given leave to land from the beginning of 1921 to the end of March last was, as shown by the quarterly and annual returns to Parliament, 1,760,189, and the number who 51W embarked during the same period was 1,771,086. Persons under 16 are usually entered on their parents' passports or, if travelling unaccompanied, have either passports or some other document which serves the purpose. The answer to the last part of the question is "none."