HC Deb 05 March 1903 vol 118 c1565
MR. ERNEST FLOWER

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that immigrants rejected as undesirables by our own colonies are being landed from time to time in England; and whether he has any means of ascertaining, if any, and, if so, how many, of the persons so landed remain in this country.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am aware that a certain number of immigrants rejected by our own colonies under their Immigration Laws are landed on their return journey in the United Kingdom. I have no official information as to whether any of such persons remain in this country, but presumably such of them as are natives of the United Kingdom remain here. Last year out of eighty-six persons rejected by the Canadian Authorities and landed in this country two were British, and L am informed by the Shipping Companies that the whole of the eighty-four foreigners were conveyed to their homes, none remaining in the United Kingdom. We have only records of two persons rejected by the Natal Authorities in 1902 and landed in this country, both of whom were British subjects.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

From what country did these foreigners come?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am afraid I cannot say, but they were all sent back.