HC Deb 02 June 1919 vol 116 c1689W
Captain DOUGLAS HALL

asked the Prime Minister how much longer the Government propose to subject the inhabitants of friendly countries, such as France and America, who are visiting Great Britain to the inconvenience of registering personally at a police station when they arrive in Great Britain or change their residence?

Mr. SHORTT

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I fully appreciate the inconvenience which the necessary war measures as to registration have sometimes imposed upon the subjects of our Allies, but that inconvenience has been much mitigated by an Order in Council made in October last under which friendly aliens can be exempted from reporting temporary changes of residence, and I understand that advantage has been widely taken of this concession. I propose by a new Order under the Aliens Bill, should it become law, to substitute for the present arrangements a scheme suitable for times of peace.