HC Deb 05 March 1924 vol 170 cc1369-70
63. Sir F. HALL

asked the Minister of Labour how many aliens received unemployment pay during the year 1923?

Mr. SHAW

The statistics asked for are not available.

Mr. HARMSWORTH

Will the right hon. Gentleman get these statistics and present them to the House so that the country may know?

Mr. SHAW

I will consider the matter, but may I point out that that will cost money?

Sir F. HALL

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that if it does cost money the advantage would be gained to this country of finding out how many of these aliens we are keeping out of our own taxes in this country?

Mr. McENTEE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether at the same time he will consider the number of aliens who are drawing dividends in this country?

Captain Viscount EDNAM

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us a guarantee that he will find out the information desired, in view of the wide interest which will be taken in his answer?

Mr. SHAW

I will give no guarantee that I will spend large sums of money in providing information if I do not think that information will be valuable.

Sir F. HALL

Are you to be the only judge of whether the information is valuable? [Interruption.] [An HON. MEMBER: "What a democratic Government!"]