§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Home Secretary whether he has yet considered the case of Max Walter Schwarz, a boy of 17 years of age, who is at present interned in the Isle of Man; and whether, in view of his age, he will take immediate steps to release him?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am giving instructions for the release of this boy.
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§ Mr. Martinasked the Home Secretary whether the internees in Holloway Prison are all under suspicion of actual offences or are any cases detained merely because of alien origin or association with persons of alien origin; whether they have in all cases been informed of their right to appear before the Advisory Committee; and, in the case of those under 21 years of age, is it customary to communicate this right also to their parents and guardians; and what is the average length of time which elapses between an arrest and appearance before the Advisory Committee?
§ Sir J. AndersonI assume that my hon. Friend has in mind persons detained under Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations. The grounds on which detention orders can be made are of various kinds and are set out in the Regulation. Every person detained under this Regulation is informed at the time of arrest of his or her rights to make objections to the Advisory Committee. It is not the practice to inform parents or guardians but persons detained are allowed to communicate with their relatives and friends. The time between arrest and appearance before the Advisory Committee varies according to circumstances. I have recently made additional appointments to the Committee to enable the cases to be disposed of more rapidly.
§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Home Secretary whether he can state the reason for the continued detention of Captain Donald Marendaz, who was arrested for taking a photograph of one of his own training machines and fined after conviction; whether he is aware that Captain Marendaz is an experienced flying officer and is anxious to give his services to the nation; and whether he intends to release this officer at an early date?
§ Sir J. AndersonCaptain Marendaz is detained under Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations. He has exercised his right to make objections to the Advisory Committee and his case will be reviewed in the light of the Committee's recommendations.
§ Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary why he has advised relatives of anti-Nazi aliens deported abroad to send letters to them addressed to the Prisoners of War Information Bureau; 982W and whether the names of these anti-Nazi refugees from Germany have been supplied to the Nazi authorities via Switzerland?
§ Sir J. AndersonAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer to the reply given on 13th August to the hon. Member or North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss.) The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.
§ Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary why the only newspapers provided or allowed in the Isle of Man internment camps for the use of aliens are the "Times," "Daily Telegraph," "Observer," and "Sunday Times"; whether these are the choice of the commandants or of the Home Office; and whether other camps have only these newspapers.
§ Mr. Harveyasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that although many weeks ago the issue of newspapers and periodicals through publishers or newsagents to aliens in internment camps was officially sanctioned, in some camps this sanction has not been acted on or is restricted to a short selection of newspapers; and whether he will give orders that in future full facilities should be given in all camps for internees to obtain whatever newspapers they desire through the authorised channels provided these do not include newspapers recognised by the Home Office as hostile to the national interest.
§ Sir J. AndersonI have had inquiry made, and am informed that at one of the camps in the Isle of Man the only newspapers asked for by the internees were the four mentioned by the right hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Wedgwood). There is now no restriction on the newspapers or periodicals which internees can obtain through the authorised channels.
§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Home Secretary whether he will reconsider his decision not to release Dr. Friedrich Scheu from internment, in view of the fact that from 1929 to 1938 he was the Vienna correspondent of the "Daily Herald," was in constant touch with the British legation and since has done invaluable work in England for the British cause as foreign affairs expert on the "New Review"; and is he aware that a strong 983W application for his release has been made by Lord Southwood and that his loyalty can be vouched for by a large number of responsible people?
§ Sir J. AndersonThis case is at present under consideration. I will communicate with the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Mr. Whiteasked the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement with regard to the progress made in the review of cases for release of interned alien refugees?
§ Sir J. AndersonApplications for release are being dealt with as rapidly as possible by a staff which has been augmented for the purpose. If my hon. Friend will repeat his Question in a week's time, I will try to furnish him with statistics showing the progress which has been made.
§ Mr. Harveyasked the Home Secretary whether the Advisory Committee has made any recommendations for the enlargement of, or for additions to, the categories of interned aliens whose release from internment may be considered; and whether any decision has been reached as to a review of the cases of those who were given B certificates by the tribunals?
§ Sir J. AndersonYes, Sir. The Advisory Committee has just submitted to me recommendations bearing upon both parts of the Question, and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement at a very early date.
Miss Rathboneasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that serious delays are taking place in the release of aliens qualified for release owing to the dangerous illness of a wife, parent or child, or owing to their own medical condition; and whether he will arrange a procedure to ensure immediate attention to such cases?
§ Sir J. AndersonSpecial arrangements have been in operation for some time to ensure that immediate attention is given to applications for release on urgent medical grounds. The hon. Lady will appreciate, however, that in many cases it is necessary to make inquiries to confirm alleged illnesses before release can be authorised, and in some instances delay has been caused by the fact that numerous applications have been made on behalf of the same individual.
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Miss Rathboneasked the Home Secretary whether he will cable to the Dominion concerned the names of the aliens who, having been already sent to Canada or Australia, are judged entitled to release under existing or future categories and arrange for them to be returned to this country or, if the Dominion agrees, released therein and enabled to take employment or, if qualified, to join their friends in the United States of America; and whether he will give priority in this matter to the names of those qualified owing to the serious illness of themselves or of a wife, parent or child?
§ Sir J. AndersonMy decisions regarding the return of aliens who have been sent overseas are communicated to the respective High Commissioners who, I understand, communicate with their Governments on the subject by cable. It is already the practice to give priority to applications for the release on urgent medical grounds of persons interned in this country.
Miss Rathboneasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that relatives or solicitors of aliens interned in Huyton Camp who have received Home Office permits to visit them are being refused permission to enter the protected area in which the camp is situated; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that this does not happen again in the case of Huyton or other internment camps situated in protected areas?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe restrictions on entry into protected areas apply only to aliens and do not therefore affect solicitors practising in this country. As regards aliens visiting relatives interned in a camp situated in a protected area, I am causing inquiry to be made about the difficulties which are said to have occurred. I am anxious that no obstacle shall be placed in the way of authorised visits to internment camps.
§ Sir R. Aclandasked the Home Secretary by what authority some officers in charge of internment camps are exacting from aliens, prior to their release, an oral promise not to communicate with the relatives of anyone remaining interned?
§ Sir J. AndersonI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 8th August to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies).