HC Deb 28 January 1929 vol 224 cc585-7
22 Mr. TAYLOR

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, (1) if any of the men who went to Canada last year under the special scheme for harvesters have been or are now being maintained by Canadian public funds or charitable agencies; and, if so, whether the British Government have any financial responsibility for such expenditure;

(2) whether he can now give an estimate of the total cost likely to fall on the British Exchequer in connection with last year's special scheme for British harvesters sent to Canada;

(3) how many men who went to Canada last year under the special scheme for Canadian harvesters have now returned to Great Britain; how many of these men received loans to assist them to return to Great Britain; what was the total sum advanced for return railway fares, steam ship passages and food; and if he can state what sum has been repaid to date on account of these loans?

25. Mr. R. MORRISON

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state the number of miners sent to Canada for the last harvest; the number settled there; and the total cost to the Government of the scheme?

Mr. AMERY

With regard to the numbers involved and the cost of the harvester scheme, I cannot yet add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Members for Lincoln (Mr. Taylor) and Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 19th December. Further small groups of men have returned from Canada since that date, but details are not yet available. I am not aware that any of the men remaining in Canada have been or are now being maintained by Canadian public funds or charitable agencies. Arrangements were made before the scheme was started with the Canadian Government and the shipping companies for the immediate repatriation of all men who were likely to become a public charge and I understand that those arrangements have entirely fulfilled their purpose.

Mr. TAYLOR

If I put down this question again in a fortnight, will the right hon. Gentleman give me the latest figure?

Mr. AMERY

I cannot be sure that I shall be able to do so. These figures come in gradually from the shipping companies. If the hon. Member likes to put down this question in two or three weeks' time I will endeavour to give the answer, if the figures have come in.

Mr. MORRISON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it will be before he is in a position to say what was the total cost of this scheme to the Government?

Mr. AMERY

I did give some figures just before the House rose, which are not likely to be materially increased by such very small additional items as may dribble in in the next few weeks.

Colonel WOODCOCK

In view of the fact that there were only 10 per cent. of failures, cannot we consider that the experiment of last year was a great success?

Mr. AMERY

I think from many points of view it was a success.

Mr. TAYLOR

What difficulty is there in giving the amount of money outstanding at the moment?

Mr. AMERY

I gave the figures as far as I could in December, and, when more details come in, no doubt it will be possible to ascertain how much additional expense is involved and how much is still outstanding in the way of loans.