HC Deb 23 November 1939 vol 353 c1434W
Wing-Commander James

asked the Home Secretary what definitions are used in determining whether foreign nationals are described as refugees, or are not so described, for the purpose of the periodical returns and statements made to the House of Commons; and how many unnatural-ised persons of German, Austrian, Czech or Polish origin who have entered this country since 1931, other than those classified as refugees and so described in the returns made, were there in this country on the date when the National Register was made?

Sir J. Anderson

The persons enumerated in the periodical returns of refugees made by the Home Office have included all persons who have been obliged to leave the territory of the German Reich by reason of political, racial or religious persecutions or have ceased to enjoy the protection of the Reich.

I regret that it is not possible to supply the information asked for in the second part of the question. The total number of aliens registered by the police in the United Kingdom as of German, Austrian, Czech, or Polish nationality at the end of October was as follows:

Male. Female. Total.
Austrian 4,197 7,792 11,989
German 27,222 35,022 62,244
Czech 3,982 3,948 7,930
Polish 4,245 4,531 8,776

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