§ 45. Mr. PETHERICKasked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Royal Commission, on which each Dominion will be represented, to consider the question of migration within the Empire, with powers to call for all necessary evidence and with instructions to propound a scheme for the promotion of migration on a large scale?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)I do not think that my hon. Friend's suggestion is a practicable one. In any case, it would not be open to any one Government within the Empire to appoint a Royal Commission of the kind which he proposes except with the consent of the other Governments concerned. It will be remembered, however, that considerable attention has recently been devoted to future policy as regards migration, and that the Government is still awaiting the views of some of the oversea Governments concerned on the recent report of the Inter-Departmental Committee (Cmd. 4689).
§ Mr. PETHERICKIf the reports from the Dominions are favourable, will the right hon. Gentleman consider setting up a Royal Commission, with the consent of the Dominions, on which they are represented?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the replies were favourable, we should have to consider what would be the most practicable course to take.