§ 4. Major DESPENCER-ROBERTSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of foreign waiters employed in this country; and how this number compares with the number of English waiters employed by foreign countries under reciprocal arrangements between those countries and Great Britain?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThere are no available statistics of foreign waiters employed in this country, nor of British waiters employed in foreign countries. The number of permits issued for the admission of foreigners to take up employment in this country as waiters (mostly of the student employé type), was 319 for the 12 months ended 30th April, 1931. The number of British subjects who were enabled to take employment abroad as waiters under reciprocal arrangements with foreign countries, was approximately 228 during the same period.
§ Captain PETER MACDONALDIs it the policy of the Government that only
§ circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Major COLVILLECan the right hon. Lady say in regard to both these industries whether there is any district in the United Kingdom where employment has improved since the Government took office?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI should like to have notice of that question.
§ Following is the statement:
§ foreign waiters who have some reciprocal agreement with British waiters are allowed to come in?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo, I would not say that it is entirely reciprocal.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. LAMBERT-WARDCan the Minister of Labour tell us the conditions under which these waiters are allowed to come into this country?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is for a limited period of time, and for the purpose of acquiring the language.