§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)On behalf of the hon. Member for North Manchester, Mr. C. E. SCHWANN, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the class of alien immigrants designated in the Monthly Returns published by the Board of Trade as "Aliens not stated to be en route to America," whether the Board of Trade has other means by which it can ascertain accurately how many of such aliens do actually settle in this country or are mere casual visitors; and, if so, what these means are. And, if no such reliable sources of information are open to it and are employed by it, do the Returns of Alien Immigration give any sound basis for accurately calculating how many alien immigrants do really settle in this country?
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASAt the port of London, where the largest number of aliens described as "Aliens not stated to be en route to America" land, an officer of Customs is employed to visit ships arriving with aliens on board from the north-western continental ports, and he is instructed to ascertain, if possible, how many of the aliens possess through tickets to places out of Europe. Information also is supplied to the Board of Trade by charitable societies of the number of aliens they send away from the United Kingdom. The returns do not assume and are not considered by those who understand them to be a basis for calculating the exact number of aliens who settle in this country, but the maximum limit of such immigration is shown under the heading of "aliens not stated to be en route for America.''