§ 1. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Labour the number of aliens at present working in Great Britain under permits, giving comparative figures for the previous 12 months?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Ernest Brown)The available records do not show the number of foreigners employed under permission at any given 1380 date. The number of permissions issued during 1935 was 13,662, as compared with 12,569 in the previous year. They cover periods varying from one week to one year, and the great majority of the foreigners do not remain here beyond 12 months from the date of admission.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these aliens are now working under extended permits?
Viscountess ASTORWould the right hon. Gentleman also remind the hon. Gentleman who put the question that the pledge of the Labour party was that there were to be no national barriers of any kind?
§ Mr. BROWNIf the hon. Gentleman will put a question down on the point he raised, I will see what I can do about it.
§ Mr. LAWSONAre not figures given of a general character very often misleading?
§ Mr. BROWNThere are all kinds of complications, but I cannot go into all of them now by question and answer.