HC Deb 20 February 1930 vol 235 cc1556-8
33 and 34. Mr. ROMERIL

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many aliens were given permission to land in this country during the year 1929 for the purpose of taking up clerical employment; and what was the number for each month of that year;

(2) what opportunity is given to British subjects to obtain positions in respect of which requests are received for the importation of alien clerical workers and for the renewal of permits of alien clerical workers already in this country?

Miss BONDFIELD

With the hon. Member's permission, I will answer these questions together, and as the reply is necessarily somewhat long I will circulate it, if I may, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

The number of aliens admitted to this country in 1929 for clerical occupations of all kinds, including those who were initially admitted as students, visitors, etc., and who were subsequently permitted to accept such employment, was 1,439. The figures for each month of 1929 were as follow:

January … … … 133
February … … … 106
March … … … 126
April … … … 128
May … … … 146
June … … … 108
July … … … 123
August … … … 121
September … … … 104
October … … … 149
November … … … 115
December … … … 80

Of the total of 1,439, 963 were young persons occupying supernumerary posts for limited periods in order to obtain British experience and some knowledge of the English language or were aliens granted permission to work in this country under arrangements for the exchange of young British and foreign student employés. The great majority of the remainder were foreign correspondents or were men admitted to take up work in the British branches of foreign companies and corporations.

In all cases where an employer wishes to obtain the services of an alien on a normal paid basis he has to satisfy my Department that he has taken all possible steps to find suitable labour from amongst permanent residents in the country. In suitable cases he is required to notify the vacancy to the local Employment Exchange or to get in touch with the local Chamber of Commerce. In addition the employer is required to give a guarantee that no labour will be displaced by the engagement of the alien in question.