§ 41 . Mr. S. Silvermanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds and under what authority Mr. F. Willner is now detained in Brixton Prison; how long he has been detained there or elsewhere; what is his nationality; whether that nationality has been affected by recent territorial changes; for what reason he took refuge in this country; and whether he will undertake that this man will not be deported, against his will, to Poland.
§ Mr. EdeThis alien arrived in this country in 1935, not as a refugee, but as a student from Belgium where he had previously been living. He was convicted on serious charges of false pretences in 1939 and again in 1942, and on each occasion sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. A deportation order was made against him and as he could not be left at large to prey on the public, he was, on the expiration of his second sentence, detained under the Aliens Order until the deportation order could be executed. Since the termination of hostilities, delay in the execution of the order has been caused because the alien, who had held a Polish passport for many years and had previously claimed Polish nation-104W ality, now repudiates that nationality, with the consequence that further inquiries to establish his nationality have been necessary; and I have decided to release him temporarily subject to restrictions. But it is my intention to deport him when this becomes possible, unless he takes the opportunity, which has already been offered to him, of leaving the country for a destination of his own choice.