§ Mr. Rileyasked the Home Secretary whether he is now prepared to consider the release of interned alien refugees where it can be established that such refugees are definitely anti-Nazi, and when their friends in this country can guarantee to provide for them or be responsible for their employment?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonMy hon. Friend's proposal is based on the assumption that means are available for establishing the attitude of each alien, whereas the crucial problem is that of finding a reliable method of ascertaining what each alien's attitude would be in testing circumstances. As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 17th October, one good test is readiness to volunteer for the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps. The Asquith Committee have been giving the most careful study to this problem, and I hope to be in a position to make a further statement at an early date.
Miss Rathboneasked the Home Secretary how many interned aliens have been recommended for release by the advisory committee appointed to consider applications coming under Category 19 of the White Paper, referring to internees who have been conspicuous for their anti-Nazi and anti-Fascist activities; and how many have been actually released out of those so recommended?
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§ Mr. MorrisonUp to and including the 1st November recommendations for the release of 23 internees had been received from the Tribunal appointed to consider applications made by Germans and Austrians under Category 19 of the White Paper. Up to the 2nd November the release of 17 of these persons had been authorised. I will obtain and send to my hon. Friend similar information about Italians who have applied for release under Category 19.