§ 20. Major CRAWFURDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of emigrants from this country to the Dominions and overseas possessions of the Crown during the periods, 1905-14 and 1914-24, respectively, and the average cost per 1,000 to the taxpayers of this country in respect of the two periods?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREParticulars of the numbers of emigrants, as distinct from passengers, were not obtained before 1st April, 1912. The balance outward of passengers of British nationality from the United Kingdom to all British possessions (the only measure available for both periods specified in the question) was 1,284,801 in the 10 years 1905-1914 and 553,808 in the 11 years 1914-1924. No State assistance to migrants was available prior to the 8th April, 1919, when 'the Government free passage scheme for ex-service men and women and their dependents came into operation. Under this scheme, which was closed on the 31st December, 1922, 86,027 migrants were assisted to settle in the Oversea Dominions, at a cost of £2,418,263—an average cost per head of approximately £28. The Empire Settlement Act came into operation in 1922, and under schemes arranged with the Oversea Governments under that Act, 85,929 persons have been assisted to proceed overseas up to the 31st December, 40 1924, at a cost to the Imperial Government up to date of £710,656—an average of £8¼ This figure will be slightly increased when certain contributions for which His Majesty's Government are liable in respect of certain land settlement schemes have been presented.
§ Major CRAWFURDAm I to understand that before 1919 there was no expense involved to the British Government in respect of emigration
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREQuite true.