9. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Minister of Labour whether there are any aliens in this country who are in receipt of unemployment benefit; if so, what is the number; and how many aliens are resident in Great Britain and have been so resident for more than 12 months who are employed in occupations in this country in which there is considerable unemployment?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.
Sir F. HALLDo I understand that the information in the first part of the question is not available? Surely it should be available?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONPerhaps it should be, but I am afraid that it is not. What we have to do is to consider, before 994 granting benefit, not the nationality but the insurance qualifications of the alien.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWhat constitutes an alien? Is it being able to pay £10 for a naturalisation fee, or being too poor to do so?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is a question of law to which I could not give an answer without notice.