§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the immigration during the current year of upwards of 35,000 aliens at eastern ports, mainly for settlement in this country, a large increase of those coming in during the same period in 1898; and having in view the competition in the labour market when the present period of industrial prosperity passes away, if Her Majesty's Government will bear in mind the pledges they are under to introduce controlling legislation upon the question during the present Parliament.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonThe number of alien immigrants not stated to be en route to places abroad that arrived at East Coast ports in the first seven months of 1899 was 29,670, or an increase of 5,000 over the corresponding period of 1898. Considerable increases are, however, shown in the emigration of foreigners from this country to places out of Europe, and also in the number of sailors included in the alien immigrants. The Government always bear in mind their pledges.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Will the right hon. Gentleman give the figures comparing them with the time when he issued his election address, and described the question as urgent, and the time when the Government promised legislation?
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman consult President Kruger before he introduces any Bill?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have not the figures now, but I shall be glad to give them.