§ Mr. R. MCNEILLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any aliens interned at Cornwallis Road, Islington, are, or have been, allowed to leave the precincts of the internment area on parole, with or without escort; if so, under what conditions; and (2) if he will have printed as a White Paper and lay upon the Table of the House any regulations that have been made for the management of places where aliens are interned, and any instructions that have been given to officers in charge of such places?
Mr. SAMUELThe regulations and instructions in force in the various places of internment are too voluminous to be printed and laid on the Table, but I will circulate with the OFFICIAL REPORT a reply to this question which would explain the conditions under which aliens are occasionally liberated for a short time on parole.
The following is the reply referred to in the above answer:
Prisoners of war interned at Cornwallis Road are sometimes allowed out on parole for a few hours by the Commandant for special reasons, such as, e.g., to attend a funeral of a near relative, or to visit a wife or child dangerously ill, or to receive hospital treatment, or in some cases to sell their household effects for the support of their British-born wives and children.
Similar permission is also given in a few cases for business purposes where it is clear that British interests will be served 866W by granting such permission. For example, a prisoner may be allowed out to enable him to close down his business and sell his stock, etc., or else to advise with regard to a business which he had been managing before his internment and which employs a number of British or Allied workmen, or in which British or Allied capital is involved, or which is producing material necessary for ourselves or our Allies in carrying on the War. No prisoner is, however, allowed out for any of these purposes unless his personal attendance at the place of business is absolutely essential.
Persons interned under Defence of the Realm Regulation 14B have not been allowed out except in three or four cases under escort to receive dental treatment.
Mr. BARLOWasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any further steps are being taken with regard to the internment of alien enemies; what number of alien enemies are still at large; and whether he proposes to take steps to intern those still at large?
Mr. SAMUELAs regards the number of alien enemies still at large, I would refer the the hon. Member to my answers yesterday and to-day. I hope to make a general statement on the subject to-morrow.