§ Mr. CROFTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the number of emigrants who are leaving the United Kingdom for foreign countries; and what steps he proposes to take to keep such emigration under the British flag?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The Board of Trade return as to passengers to and from places out of Europe for the ten months ending 31st October, 1911, shows that practically 80 per cent. of the British emigration is to various parts of the British Empire. This agrees with the prediction I made in my statement on emigration at the Imperial Conference, and, as I indicated on that occasion, it does not appear to me that any special action on my part is necessary at the present time.
§ Mr. RAFFANHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the large proportion of emigration taking place from rural districts in this country, where the people are unable to get access to the soil, and whether he will urge upon the Government the necessity of introducing some measure which will not only keep those people under the British flag but within the British Empire?
§ Mr. CROFTHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that 44,000 emigrants have gone to the United States, and whether he does not think it desirable that emigration should be kept within the British Empire?
§ Mr. BURNSIf the hon. Member will look at the statement issued by the Imperial Conference he will find that ten years ago 25 or 30 per cent. of the emigrants went to the British Dominions, but 80 per cent. go there now.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEDid not the 44,000 emigrants that went to the United States mainly come from Ireland, and does the right hon. Gentleman know any better means of keeping those people within the British flag than by giving Ireland Home Rule?