§ 11. Mr. SORENSENasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many boys and girls, respectively, have emigrated to New Zealand and to Australia in each of the years 1928, 1929, and 1930; how many have returned; how many have emigrated this year; and whether he has received any representations from the Governments of those Dominions respecting the inadvisability of continuing such emigration?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)The number of boys between the ages of 12 and 20 who migrated to Australia and New Zealand in 1928 was 5,225, in 1929 3,250, in 1930 1,057, and in 1931 (down to 31st March) 114. The number 1600 of girls was 2,740 in 1928, 1,746 in 1929, 707 in 1930, and 97 in 1931 (down to 31st March). It is not possible to state how many of these boys and girls have returned to this country, but the total numbers of immigrants into the United Kingdom from Australia and New Zealand during the three years in question included the following numbers of boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 20, namely, boys 446, 523 and 625, respectively; girls 360, 371 and 484. The figures of migration for the current year are only available to the 31st March. They include 114 boys and 97 girls. As regards the last part of the question, my hon. Friend will appreciate the difficulties in present economic conditions of encouraging migration to Australia, whilst conditions in New Zealand are also unfavourable to migration at present. At the request therefore of the Governments of those Dominions and with the full concurrence of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, the grant of assisted passages is, with a few individual exceptions, suspended for the time being.
§ Mr. LAWTHERCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these boys and girls who emigrated are known to have come back as stowaways or to have worked their passages back?
§ Mr. THOMASThat is another question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat matter cannot arise out of this question.