§ 22. Mr. HOGGEasked the President of the Local Government Board what progress is being made with further provision for Belgian refugees; and what is the total number to date in this country?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Registrar-General estimates that the number of Belgian Refugees (excluding soldiers) now in this country is about 180,000. Of these it may be roughly estimated that the number of employable men is about 29,000, of whom about 17,000 have already been placed in employment, and efforts are continually being made to find occupation for the others. Of 17,000 employable women about 3,000 are employed. Several thousands of refugees, not included in the figures of employment, have enlisted in the Belgian Army. The number of refugees awaiting hospitality has so far diminished as to allow of my being able to close the Alexandra Palace as a refuge and to arrange for the transfer of the buildings to the War Office. About 2,400 refugees remain in other refuges, and further offers of hospitality would be gladly received by the War Refugees' Committee at Aldwych.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman state whether there are other refugees who could be brought over here if hospitality were arranged for?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo doubt, when traffic is resumed with Holland, it would be possible to bring over other refugees if hospitality were available; but of late the offers of hospitality have not been large.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs it proposed to give employment to these, people in the manufacture of munitions of war?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThere are a large number employed in armament factories.