§ 5. Mr. DORANasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the discontent among artistes, technicians, artisans, etc., employed in British film studios, through the introduction of aliens, mainly exiles from Germany; on what grounds his Department recommends the granting of permits to these persons; whether he will state the names of the parties who made application for such services; and, as plenty of British labour is available for the work, will he take immediate steps to cancel these permits in order to avoid trouble between British and alien labour?
Mr. STANLEYI have no evidence of such discontent and the suggestion that these permits, which in total are quite few, are mainly issued to Germans is quite incorrect. The film company is re- 1240 quired to make application in each case and to show that the introduction of an alien is necessary. If these permits were cancelled, as my hon. Friend suggests, the result might well be not to increase but to reduce the amount of employment available for British workers.
§ Mr. DORANHas the right hon. Gentleman personally investigated, or caused to be investigated, the real reason for the discontent prevailing in the studio. I have investigated—