§ Mr. Martinasked the Home Secretary whether, now that the imminence of invasion appears somewhat to have abated, he will consider amending Defence Regulations in such a manner that those detained under them may in future have their appeals heard by a judicial tribunal?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIf my hon. Friend's suggestion is that there should be an appeal to a court of law, it is not one which I could accept. The object of Defence Regulation 18B is to enable the Minister responsible for national security to detain in time of war certain limited classes of persons as a preventive measure and not because they have committed any specific criminal offence. The question whether detention under the Regulation is necessary on grounds of national security is not one which is appropriate for investigation by a court of law; and the objections to such a proposal are not affected by the imminence or otherwise of invasion.