§ 35. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Home Secretary whether alien enemies when employed are paid as much as from £2 to £5 a week whereas the widows, wives, 1526 and dependants of British soldiers have to subsist on much smaller allowances; and whether, assuming that it is desirable to pay trade union rates to employed alien enemies, he will arrange that the total sums so earned, less a few shillings a week, shall be retained and paid over to the voluntary fund of the Minister of Pensions or to the British Red Cross?
§ Sir G. CAVEAlien enemies who are skilled workers receive when employed the standard rates of pay for the work in which they are engaged. If their pay were reduced to a few shillings a week as proposed, they would probably refuse to do the work which is required in the public interest, and in any case the maintenance of their families would fall on the rates. For these and other reasons, I fear that effect cannot be given to my hon. Friend's suggestion.