Miss Rathboneasked the Home Secretary how appeals from the decisions of the enemy aliens tribunals are being dealt with; especially whether an appeal tribunal has yet been appointed; of whom it consists; whether it has begun functioning; how many appeals have been lodged and how many decided; whether appeals are being dealt with directly by the Home Office; and whether aliens who were placed in category B by the tribunals before the issue of the Home Office circular discouraging the use of that category can ask to have their cases reconsidered by the original tribunal or by the Home Office, in view of the enforced idleness and continued burden on the funds of refugee organisations which any unnecessary continuation of the restrictions imposed by category B involves?
§ Sir J. AndersonAlthough all enemy aliens are liable to be interned, the great majority have hitherto been exempted from internment. Of about 35,000 cases which have already been reviewed by the tribunals, internment has been ordered in 348 cases only. If representations are1418W made to me by or on behalf of any enemy alien who has been interned, the question whether there is any ground for reviewing the tribunal's decision is carefully considered, and arrangements have been made to refer doubtful cases to the advisory committees, of which the chairmen are, in England, Sir Walter Monckton and Mr. Norman Birkett, and, in Scotland, Lord Alness. The committees have already dealt with a number of cases of enemy aliens who were interned on the outbreak of war and will deal in future with such cases of persons interned by the tribunals as are referred to them by the Home Office. As regards Germans and Austrians who, though exempted from internment, have not been exempted from the special restrictions applicable to enemy aliens, I know of no grounds for reconsidering the decisions which have been reached by the tribunals after interviewing the aliens and hearing all that is known about them. If any alien in this category has an opportunity of being employed in some suitable occupation where his employment will not be detrimental to the interests of British workers, the Home Office will not refuse him permission to take such employment because he is subject to the special restrictions.
§ Mr. Footasked the Home Secretary whether Mr. Alexander Siegel and Miss E. M. Liesegang were detained on 1st September under Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations or by the exercise of the Royal Prerogative?
§ Sir J. AndersonThese persons are enemy aliens and were interned in the exercise of the Royal Prerogative.
§ Mr. Footasked the Home Secretary whether aliens are interned under Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations or by exercise of the Royal Prerogative; and, if the latter, what opportunity is given to them to state their objections to an advisory committee?
§ Sir J. AndersonEnemy aliens are interned under the Royal Prerogative. If representations are made to me by or on behalf of such aliens, they are carefully considered, and in cases where there is some doubt whether internment is necessary for security purposes it is my practice to refer the case to the advisory committee, in order that I may have the benefit of a report from them. The enemy aliens interned fall into 1419W various categories. Some were interned on the outbreak of war; some are persons taken off enemy ships or arrested on arrival at ports since the outbreak of war; some are persons whose cases have been examined by the local tribunals. As regards the latter class, it is contemplated that in most of these cases further examination by the advisory committee will not be required.