§ 35. Captain FOXCROFTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British subjects were employed by the Soviet diplomatic Legation, trade delegation, and Arcos, respectively, at the time of the severance of our relations with the Soviet; and how many of these are still thus employed?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Captain Hacking)I am informed that, according to the latest figures available, the numbers of British subjects employed before the severance of diplomatic relations by the Soviet institutions named were: Soviet Legation, 18; Trade Delegation, 27, and Arcos, 224. The Legation and Trade Delegation, having left this country, there are no British subjects employed by them. According to a list furnished by the director of Arcos, the number of British subjects employed by that company on 1st July was 127.
§ Captain FOXCROFTAm I right in the supposition that all these British subjects are still in the pay of Arcos and in the employment of the Soviet Government?
§ Captain HACKINGThose people who are employed by Arcos are still in the pay of Arcos.
§ Mr. THURTLECan the hon. and gallant Member say whether the Government are taking steps to find employment for those British subjects who have been displaced as a result of the action of the Government?
§ Captain HACKINGNo. Although we regret the unemployment, still, there are things to be put on the other side of the balance-sheet which more than compensate it.