§ 26. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Arab villages in Palestine have had to absorb a large number of workers previously employed in pits and quarries which have been taken over by Jewish labour; will alternative employment be found for these workers whose labour has suddenly become redundant; what are the latest unemployment totals among Arab workers and among Jewish workers in Palestine; and how many immigrants have been admitted to Palestine since 1st January, 1937?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I am aware that, as a result of the Arab strike last year, there has been a tendency for Jewish employers to replace Arab by Jewish labour, but I have no specific information about the position in pits and quarries. The Palestine Government have the unemployment situation under consideration, and funds will be allocated for relief works if the situation is found to require it. The latest figures in my possession show that there were approximately 11,500 Arabs unemployed at the end of March, and 4,500 Jews unemployed at the end of September. There were 10,270 immigrants of all ages, of whom 8,932 were Jews, admitted to Palestine in the first 10 months of the present year.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not obvious that the economic situation in Palestine cannot be solved until the people of Palestine get an opportunity of controlling their own 369 destiny; and will not the right hon. Gentleman take steps to apply the Mandate and provide them with the opportunity of having a Legislative Assembly?