§ SIR J. COLOMB (Tower Hamlets, Bow, &c.)I bog to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence of Inspector Holland, at the Wandsworth Police Court on the 18th instant, as to a destitute Italian family, recently arrived in this country, consisting of a father, mother, and six children, who were living in a miserable apartment, which smelt horribly, with a cat, a monkey, and several white mice, and to the further statement of Inspector Holland that within a short period 200 Italians in the same destitute condition had arrived in this country; and what steps are being taken to give effect to the recommedations of the Select Committee on the Immigration of Foreigners?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICES BEACH, Bristol, W.)I am informed that Inspector Holland did not state that, within a short period, 200 destitute Italians had immigrated into this country. In this particular case, the family had been brought to England by one of its members who was living here, and had sent £16 to Italy to pay their passage. This person was bound over in the sum of £25 as a guarantee for the good conduct of the father of the family, who was proved to have sent a child to beg. The father stated that eight other Italian families came over with him. As regards the recommendations of the Select Committee mi the Immigration of Foreigners, I can only repeat what I have already stated in reply to other hon. Members, namely, that steps are being taken to put in force the recommendations of the Committee so far as it is possible to do so without fresh legislative powers. We are obtaining a statistical record of the immigration of foreigners as regards vessels arriving at the principal ports of the United Kingdom from European 72 ports, and we are also getting Reports from British Consuls at the chief European ports as to the emigration of destitute aliens to the United Kingdom.
§ *SIR J. COLOMBAre arrangements now in operation for keeping the record?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHYes.