§ 45. Mr. COUPERasked the Prime Minister whether any schemes are under consideration for the relief of unemployment among miners by the promotion of special migration movements to Canada or elsewhere; and whether, in view of the gravity of the unemployment problem in the mining districts, the Government will be prepared to offer special financial facilities for the development of such movements?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. BettertonI have been asked to answer this question. I invite my hon. Friend's attention to the answer given on the 7th instant to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Mr. Somerville). As was indicated in the reply then given no schemes of this nature could be undertaken except in consultation with the Dominion Government concerned.
§ Mr. COUPERWill the hon. Gentleman state if his attention has been drawn to the statement attributed by the Press to an ex-Minister of Trade and Commerce for Canada, that employment for miners in this country is available in British Columbia if they are sent there?
§ Mr. BETTERTONMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is leaving New Zealand to-day for Canada, and he expects to be in Canada about the end of January, and no doubt all relevant considerations will be borne in mind by him when consulting with the Dominion representatives.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAHas a Committee to deal with this yet been appointed, and, if so, of whom does it consist?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI could not say.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs sending unemployed miners to Canada to dig more coal there going to make the conditions any better here?
§ Lord APSLEYIs the hon. Gentleman's Department watching mining developments in Canada at the present moment, and is it possible for him to get statistics as to the actual annual expansion of labour in that country and the wages being paid and where that labour is coming from, including foreign immigration into Canada?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf my Noble Friend will put down a question, I will give him such information as I can, but I could not do so without notice.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASWill the hon. Gentleman ascertain from the Department of Overseas Trade what is the number of British people who are at present registered, and have been for three years registered., and awaiting an opportunity to go to the Dominions, but are denied, for certain reasons which some of us would like to know? Will he ascertain those facts?
§ Mr. BETTERTONYes.