asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the existing curfew imposing difficulties, in particular, affecting their employment and their desire to do fire-watching, he will con- sider relaxing or raising the existing restrictions imposed on Austrian and German refugees from Nazi oppression and thus grant similar conditions to these as to Czech and other recognised friendly aliens?

The curfew provisions apply to all aliens alike, irrespective of their nationality, and any alien can apply to the police for exemption from those provisions. As regards fire-watching, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for the English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey) on Thursday last. As regards employment, chief constables have been advised by the Home Office that permits should be granted freely to those whose occupation requires them to be away from home after the curfew hour. I have no reason to think that chief constables are not administering these provisions in accordance with the advice which has been given to them. Instructions have been sent to chief constables as to the grant of exemptions for this purpose.

In view of the fact that these friendly aliens are assumed to be reliable enough for work in our factories, would not the lifting of the curfew altogether be desirable?

I do riot think that it would be desirable, and I think that the advice I have given to the chief constables enables the matter to be dealt with reasonably.