§ 37. Mr. GILBERTasked how many interned alien enemies in this country are now being employed on any national or remunerative work; and why all able-bodied interned alien enemies should not be employed on some work of a public character instead of remaining idle in their various camps?
Mr. SAMUELI am afraid I have not the answer to this question with me, but the number is about 4,000 employed in useful and remunerative work other than fatigue duties in the camps. Other schemes are under consideration now by means of which it is hoped to employ a considerably larger number of these interned persons.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs not the difficulty to get local people to employ them?
§ [The following is the reply which the Home Secretary had prepared: Over 3,000 of the interned civilians are employed on work which is to the public advantage, without counting those engaged in per-forming ordinary camp fatigues. As regards the second part of the question, only a few kinds of industrial work can be carried on profitably inside the camps; and it is difficult to provide the guards necessary for the employment of numerous parties in labouring or agricultural work outside; but fresh schemes are under consideration, and I hope that the numbers in useful employment will be increased.]