HC Deb 19 November 1931 vol 259 cc993-4
9. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL

asked 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. BETTERTON

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

Sir F. HALL

Do I understand that the information in the first part of the question is not available? Surely it should be available?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Perhaps it should be, but I am afraid that it is not. What we have to do is to consider, before granting benefit, not the nationality but the insurance qualifications of the alien.

Mr. BUCHANAN

What constitutes an alien? Is it being able to pay £10 for a naturalisation fee, or being too poor to do so?

Sir H. BETTERTON

That is a question of law to which I could not give an answer without notice.