§ 19. Sir C. COBBasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is able to state the number of miners in the mines of England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively, who are aliens or the immediate descendants of aliens; if not, whether such information will be available from the Census Returns when they are duly tabulated; and whether his Department has any plans for repatriating those registered as aliens to their various countries of origin as undesirables?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)I have been asked to reply to this question. No figures later than those of the 1911 Census are available. There were then 1,144 aliens working in mines and quarries in England and Wales and 2,921 in Scotland. "Immediate descendants" is a phrase of uncertain extension, and no figures are available on this point. Statistics of alien miners will be available when the Census Returns of 1921 are tabulated; but it should be clearly understood that the Census Returns are confidential and cannot be used as the basis for repatriation.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes the calling of a miner render an alien undesirable and liable to deportation, as asked in the question?
§ Mr. KILEYHas the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the number of British subjects engaged in mining in different parts of the world?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo, I cannot give that information. It depends on the individual, of course.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men are the descendants of people who were brought in by coalowners in previous years with the object of breaking previous strikes?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo, Sir.