asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, despite their unauthorised entry into this country, and taking into account their ill-treatment at the hands of the Poles, he will allow Erich Schillinzki and Gustav Schrinzog, both of Danzig, to stay in this country as land workers or miners, instead of ordering their deportation to certain persecution.

The information at present in my possession about these two men is not sufficient to enable me to come to a final decision about their disposal. When inquiries are completed, I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend take into account the earnest pleas put in on behalf of these two men by Mr. Daniel Hopkin, the Marlborough Street magistrate, when he remanded them? I believe that they are actually Germans.

I shall take into account all the circumstances of this case when I have complete information in front of me.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider in this case, and in all other cases of great difficulty which may cause terrible hardship to the individual, consulting the International Refugee Organisation before sending these people to what may be torture in a slave camp under Soviet control?

I endeavour to get all the information I possibly can, and where it appears that the organisation named by the noble Lord can help me, I consult them.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that if he is looking for people who suffered badly from racial enemies, and who are looking for refuge with a view to coming into this country, there are many people who would have prior claims?

One of the difficulties which confronts me in these cases is dealing with people who come in illegally, and who might otherwise have had good claims on our compassion.