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Commons Amendment

Volume 43: debated on Monday 15 August 1921

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After Clause 3.

Deportation of aliens for procuration.

Where any person not being a British subject is convicted of an offence under section two of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885, in addition to any punishment in respect of such offence, the court shall on conviction recommend such person for deportation.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment. —( The Lord Bishop of Norwich.)

On this Amendment I put down a Motion to leave out"the court shall on conviction recommend such person"and to insert"he may on conviction be recommended," but I do not desire to press it to a Division. I really put it down as somehow I feel that, where a clause is made permissive rather than obligatory, there is a greater chance of conviction, because, if deportation follows conviction in every case, it appears to me that possibly the Court might be less ready to convict. If, however, the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack is satisfied that the same result would be attained by leaving the words as they stand in the Commons Amendment, I will not move to disagree.

On Question, Motion agreed to.