§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Home Secretary whether the Government have in preparation a Measure to continue the Aliens Act with such modifications which will give additional protection to the workers of this country against cheap 313W Continental labour, especially in view of the alleged readiness on the part of many thousands of German workers who are waiting for the relaxation of the law against aliens to flood this country as in pre-War days?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am glad to have an opportunity of removing some misapprehension which, I think, exists upon this subject. The provisions of the law which are continuing in force give complete power to impose restrictions on aliens. Under this power alien immigration can be controlled to any extent which the needs of this country require from time to time, from the point of view of the labour market, public health, law and order, and otherwise. I can assure my hon. Friend that care will be taken to see that those interests suffer no damage from the expiration at the end of this year of certain special provisions in regard to former enemy aliens. Those provisions were never an essential part of the machinery of alien control and, as I have explained, their expiration does not necessitate any further legislative provision.