– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 25 January 1951.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent powers are possessed by the Government to return to their own country colonial citizens who arrived in this country as stowaways.
There is no power to refuse admission to this country or to return to their own country persons who on arrival in this country can produce satisfactory evidence that they are British subjects.
In view of the fact that a certain number have arrived in that way recently, can steps be taken to detain these persons by arrangement with the Colonies, so that stowing away will be made more difficult?
I am in constant touch with the Secretary of State for the Colonies about this problem. Certain preventive measures have been taken, and more are contemplated.