§ MR. CLAUDE HAYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will grant a Return showing the expense to which the local authorities in Great Britain have been put by the wandering throughout Great Britain of a band of sixty or more German gipsies since the early part of this year; and whether he proposes to provide 124 funds from the Exchequer to recompense the local authorities for this expenditure, which they have unwillingly incurred in consequence of the hospitality of the nation having been extended to these alien immigrants.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)No good purpose would be served by such a Return even if it was possible to obtain the figures. I have no power to provide funds out of the Exchequer, nor do I think that there is any reason for doing so.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYWhy "no good purpose?"
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a band of these gipsies is still giving a great deal of trouble?
§ *MR. GLADSTONEI am of course aware that there are gipsies about the country who are giving a great deal of trouble. Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggest some method of remedying the grievance?
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTI will wait on the right hon. Gentleman for the purpose.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to introduce any legislation to cope with this evil?
§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)Would not these gipsies give less trouble if let alone?
§ [No answered was returned.]