HC Deb 18 July 1940 vol 363 cc408-9W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for War what regulations have been made regarding communication between interned aliens and their families?

Mr. Eden

All civilian internees are allowed to send two letters a week. As regards the reception of letters, there is no fixed limit.

Miss Rathbone

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a number of persons of Polish origin, coming from that part of Poland now occupied by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, but many of them resident in this country for from 25 to 50 years, have been interned; whether this has been done on grounds of their nationality or on personal grounds; and whether he will give an assurance that, since these are not enemy aliens, they will not be sent overseas without grave personal reasons?

Sir J. Anderson

Persons who are not of enemy nationality are not liable to internment on grounds of nationality, though in individual cases they may be detained on security grounds. I shall be glad if the hon. Lady will give me some further particulars about the aliens whom she has in mind.

Miss Rathbone

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the 7,500 male civilian internees who have already been sent overseas included many who, under the Home Office regulations, prescribing the conditions of exemption from internment, should not have been interned, and, to prevent these mistakes occurring in future, will he ensure that all camp commandants are immediately informed of the nature of these regulations and are instructed not to send overseas internees apparently qualified for exemption until their application for release has been considered?

Sir J. Anderson

Steps are being taken to ensure, so far as possible, that persons who appear to come within the categories of exemption from internment shall not be sent overseas until their cases have been considered.

Mr. Leach

asked the Home Secretary whether he will adopt a scheme for the release of friendly interned aliens based on guarantors of their bona fides being forthcoming from prominent British citizens?

Sir J. Anderson

A large number of the persons interned have already been sponsored by persons in this country and I could not undertake to release all those for whom guarantees may be forthcoming. The first step must be for the responsible authorities to review these cases when release seems desirable for the purpose of enabling an individual to make a valuable contribution to the national war effort.