§ 3 and 4. Brigadier-General NATIONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) whether he has received any communications from the Dominions regarding the recommendations contained in the report of the inter-Departmental Committee on Migration Policy; and whether any of them are prepared to fall in with those recommendations;
(2) whether any steps have been taken to set up the advisory bodies recommended in the inter-Departmental Committee report for advising him on migration and to co-ordinate the administration of migration policy; and, if so, whether he can give the names of the members?
Mr. THOMASThe Government do not propose to reach any immediate conclusion as to the individual recommendations in the report of the inter-Departmental Committee, but copies of the report have been sent to the Dominion Governments concerned and to the State Governments in Australia, and their observations are being invited. I also anticipate that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will have opportunities of informal discussion concerning the report with the Commonwealth and State Governments in Australia and with the Government of New Zealand. The views of voluntary organisations and others connected with the work of migration in this country are also being ascertained.
§ Brigadier-General NATIONWill my right hon. Friend answer the question with regard to the advisory bodies recommended in the report; are they to be set up in the meanwhile?
Mr. THOMASThe whole question of migration, in my judgment at least, is dependent upon opportunities being afforded in the Dominions to give to migrants a fair chance, and I do not propose to encourage people to leave this country unless I am satisfied that they have a fair chance. That is the broad general principle.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes not the whole thing depend upon land being available?
§ 5. Brigadier-General NATIONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has considered the various individual schemes for British community family settlements submitted to him by Brigadier-General Hornby, of the Hornby farms, Lethbridge, Canada; and whether he has consulted the Canadian Government as to the question whether these schemes are regarded by them as being practical and acceptable?
Mr. THOMASThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, I have not thought it desirable, in advance of any general discussion with the Canadian Government as to migration policy, to consult them regarding individual schemes.