Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the Home Secretary whether he has received any reports from his immigration officers of the evasion of supervision by coloured alien seamen; and whether he will investigate the recent report of the Chief Constable of South Shields to the effect that although permission to land is refused in many cases the persons concerned none the less manage to do so?
§ Mr. SHORTMy right hon. Friend has received a copy of the Chief Constable's Report to his watch committee, which I take it is the Report referred to. It266W shows, what was already known from the reports of the immigration officers and otherwise, that a certain number of coloured alien seamen do contrive to land in this country without permission. The hon. Member will realise that it is not possible entirely to prevent such evasions; but my right hon. Friend wishes to assure him that the matter is one which engages the constant attention of his Department, and that every effort is made by the immigration officers and the police to enforce the provisions of the Aliens Order in this respect.