§ 32. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Home Secretary what is the present number of German domestic servants in this country; and what principles are adopted in granting permission to these foreign servants to enter and remain in this country?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo figures are available as to the total number of Germans who are in domestic employment in this country, but approximately 5,000 permits have been granted by the Ministry of Labour to German women for the purpose of enabling them to take up domestic service during the course of the last five years. Without a detailed examination of individual cases, which would involve undue labour and expense, it is not possible to state how many of these women are still in this country, but experience has shown that the majority of foreign domestics who come here return to their own country within the course of two or three years, and comparatively few stay longer than four years. As regards the second part of the question, a foreign servant is not admitted to this country unless in possession of a permit issued to the employer, which the Ministry of Labour only grants after being satisfied that there are proper grounds for doing so.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELOn what principle does my right hon. Friend allow these foreigners to come in and displace British labour? What justification is there for it?
§ Sir J. GILMOUREvery case is carefully investigated by the Ministry of Labour.
Viscountess ASTORIs it not necessary, if we want our children taught German, which is necessary for international commerce, that we should have some of these women over here?
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes not the Home Office keep some record of these people? My right hon. Friend says that he is only able to state the number of permits issued. Have not the permits to be returned when people go away, or do they not have to inform the Home Office when they leave the country?
§ Sir J. GILMOURYes, careful records are kept. All that I have said is that I cannot give details without a great amount of labour.