§ 13. Lord SCONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will add to the terms of reference of the newly constituted committee of inquiry into vagrancy in Scotland an instruction that the committee shall ascertain, as far as possible, the percentage of Vagrants, and other persons of the wayfaring classes at present living in Scotland, that are of Irish birth and the percentage that are Scottish born but of Irish parentage, respectively?
§ Mr. SKELTONMy right hon. Friend does not propose to accept my Noble Friend's suggestion.
§ Lord SCONEIs my hon. Friend aware that the population of many poor houses in Scotland at certain seasons of the year comprises 75 per cent. and upwards of persons born in the Irish Free State, and does he not think that requires some investigation?
§ Mr. SKELTONThe present committee has been charged with the investigation of the conditions under which vagrants and other persons of that class are at present living in Scotland, and no doubt if the committee, in the course of their investigation, take the view that it is necessary to obtain information as to the number of vagrants of any particular nationality they will do so.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENAre they not all fleeing from de Valera—or most of them?