§ 30. Mr. MORGANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that out of 500 porters and 90 customs guards employed by the Haifa port authorities not one is a Jew; and whether, in view of the fact that the Jewish population of Palestine amounts to approximately one-third of the whole and contributes over half the revenue of that mandated territory, he will cause arrangements to be made to ensure that a proportion of Jews are employed on all works paid for out of public funds and that the present discrimination against Jewish labour will cease?
Mr. J. H. THOMASI am not able to confirm the statement made in the first part of the question, but I understand that Arabs offer themselves more readily than Jews for labour in the ports of Palestine. As regards the second part of the question, employment on works paid for out of public funds in Palestine is available to Jews on the same conditions as to non-Jews.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the mandate for Palestine, at any rate, will not be handed over to Germany?
Mr. THOMASThat does not arise out of the difference between Jews not seeking work and Arabs wanting work.