§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury if, with reference to the representations made to him on behalf of several trades unions as to the increasing numbers of working men who are out of employment, his attention has been called to the arrival of 38,557 aliens in the United Kingdom in the last six months not en route to any other country, and that over 27,000 came from German, Russian, and Scandinavian ports, and that upwards of 70 per cent. were Russians and Poles for settlement, in Whitechapel and the Tower Hamlets; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) There seems no reason to believe that the number of aliens described as "not en route to any other country" at all represents the number who come to this country for settlement. The number, if experience is to be trusted, who actually settle is decidedly less. I have no evidence as to the percentage who are Russians and Poles. My hon. friend is acquainted with the history of the attempt made in the course of the session by the Government to deal with the problem of alien immigration. It is greatly to be regretted that the course adopted by some Members of the Grand Committee to which the Bill was referred has rendered its passage impossible during the present session of Parliament.