§ 2 and 3. Mr. L. Smithasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether, in connection with the employment of imported Irish labour in this country, he will consider whether it would be possible to arrange for the return to Ireland of these workers in the event of their losing employment or becoming a charge on the Unemployment Insurance Fund;
§ (2) whether, in view of the fact that there are over 20,000 unemployed agricultural labourers on the lists of the employment exchanges at the present time, he will consider the desirability of refusing admission to this country of additional agricultural labourers from Ireland until such time as the surplus of British agricultural labourers has been absorbed?
§ Mr. E. BrownAs my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, there is no authority to restrict the entry of British subjects into the United Kingdom. Similarly, there is no provision for deporting British subjects from the United Kingdom, from whatever Dominion they may come and, therefore, it is impracticable under existing legislation to remove persons compulsorily to the Irish Free State. At the same time, in cases where the individual concerned is ready to be repatriated to the Irish Free State, arrangements have been made for this to be done.
§ Mr. SmithHas my right hon. Friend prepared any estimate of the cost to this country of the Irish Free State problem in this matter?
§ Mr. BrownI have no figures to give, but the question of the extent of Irish Free State migration into this country is under examination with a view to ascertaining the facts.
§ Mr. T. SmithCan the right hon. Gentleman say in which country the bulk of these men are employed, and how is that labour distributed?