§ Captain Ramsayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the increasingly favourable war situation, and as it has been possible to release more than 700 members of the British Union, including the leader of the movement and other senior officers, he will now consider releasing, under suitable conditions, the small number of persons, approximately 20, detained in the early part of 1940 under Section IA of Regulation 18B and who are still held solely because they have been members of the British Union.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIt is not the case that persons detained under Defence Regula-1990W tion 18 (1A) are kept in continued detention merely because they have been members of the British Union. Whatever may have been the grounds for detention, detention is continued only so long as it is considered necessary for purposes of national security, and as I have explained on previous occasions to the House, it is my duty to consider from time to time whether continued detention for these purposes is necessary, and in reviewing each case to take account of all relevant considerations including considerations which arise from changes in the war situation. There has been and will be no failure to apply this procedure to the persons to whom the hon. and gallant Member refers.