§ 27. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the formation of the West of England Empire Settlement Scheme for collective migration to the Dominion of Australia; if so, whether His Majesty's Government has been asked to contribute towards the cost of the scheme; what contribution, if any, was promised; and whether he can state what progress has been made in respect of emigration under the auspices of the scheme referred to?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I have been asked to reply to this question. My attention has been called to the recent formation of a Migration Committee for Devon and Cornwall. I understand that this Committee has arranged for Lieut.-Colonel S. F. Newcombe, D.S.O., R.E., to proceed, as their representative to Western Australia, to discuss the possibility of a joint county settlement scheme with the Oversea Authorities, and that he left this country on the 9th March for this purpose. His Majesty's Government has not been asked to make any pecuniary contribution, nor have the Committee's proposals reached 447 the stage at which any such question would arise. This matter will come up for consideration on Colonel Newcombe's return from Australia.