HC Deb 24 June 1907 vol 176 cc887-8
MR. CREMER

I desire to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what salaries or fees are paid to the members of the immigrant boards in the different ports of the United Kingdom; if his attention has been called to a promise made by the right hon. Member for St. Augustine's, when the Pauper Immigrants' Bill was being discussed in the last Parliament, that the names of workmen should be placed upon the panel from which the members of the immigrant boards were to be selected; if any such names were so placed, whether any of them have been appointed upon the boards, or if their names still remain upon the panel; and whether, seeing that so many of the immigrants belong to the destitute class, he will appoint upon each immigrant board some workman who has a practical acquaintance with the poor.

MR. GLADSTONE

A payment of one guinea is made to members of immigration boards for each meeting attended, to cover any expenses to which they may be put. I am aware of the promise referred to, and I know, as I stated in answer to the hon. Member for the Tower Hamlets in March of last year, that it was kept in view in making the appointments which were practically all settled when I took office. No names have been removed from the panels. As to the actual service upon Boards of individual members, I have to say that this must depend on circumstances. Members are summoned, so far as possible, in rotation, but Boards have often to be convened in great haste, and members may have to serve who are immediately available. For this reason I cannot undertake that a workman shall appear on every Board; but I shall be ready to consider any suggestions for increasing the number of workmen, or representatives of their class, on the panels in any case where good cause is shown and suitable persons are suggested.

MR. CREMER

Why not place them on the Board? Have any workmen been selected to serve?

MR. GLADSTONE

I have dealt with that in my Answer.

MR. CROOKS

Is there anyone on any of these Boards with practical experience?

MR. GLADSTONE

Yes, Sir.