§ 42. Sir CUTHBERT QUILTERasked whether an offer has been received from Mr. R. C. Marsh to give employment to 100 Belgian refugees at Hawkedon, Suffolk; whether such offer has been refused; and, if so, the reason for such refusal?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)No such offer has been made to me, and I had not heard of the matter, but on inquiry of the Board of Trade I learn that some time in November Mr. Marsh applied to the Labour Exchange for a supply of from 12 to 100 Belgian men or lads to work at threshing mills or sand pits. He was told that the labour could not be supplied, as the proposed place of employment was in one of the prohibited areas to which refugees are not sent.