§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the letter of Mr. Arnold White in the Times of 15th July (page 5), upon "The Invasion of Pauper Aliens"; and whether the aliens arriving by 128 ships out of 261 have not been subjected to the statistical control now being exercised; and, in such case, if he will take steps to ensure that Parliament shall be made fully conversant with the extent to which foreign labour is brought to this country to compete with national labour?
§ MR. BRUNNERBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, may I ask if he will be good enough to ascertain and inform the House to what extent Englishmen go to foreign countries and compete with native labour?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I have no doubt that that occurs to a large extent, but it scarcely seems to bear upon the question upon the 72 Paper, and I am afraid it would not be-possible to obtain statistics. My answer to the question is in the affirmative. My attention has been directed to the letter referred to by the hon. Member. The Returns of aliens arriving by the 128 ships to which my hon. Friend refers, were not subjected to the same statistical control as is now exercised over such Returns, because the ships arrived before the new arrangements of which I have-already informed the House were put in force.