29 and 31. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Home Secretary (1) whether his attention has been called to the delays which still continue in dealing with applications for visas for refugees, even when suitable guarantors and banker's references have been provided; and whether, in view of the danger involved in even a short delay to many victims of persecution and the acute mental suffering of others, he will take steps still further to increase the staff of the Aliens Department and shorten the period required before a visa can be granted;
(2) Whether he is aware that many offers of hospitality and guarantees of maintenance for student refugees have been received from the teaching staff and students of English universities, and that great disappointment has been caused by the long delay in obtaining visas for these refugee students; and whether he will expedite the granting of visas in such cases?
§ Sir S. HoareI am in full sympathy with the consideration to which the hon. Member calls attention, and I am most anxious that there shall be no delay in the granting of visas in cases when it is clear that admission to this country can properly be authorised. Further additions to the staff have been made within the last two or three days and other measures are being taken to accelerate the work.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherDoes the right hon. Gentleman now consider that the staff is adequate for the work in hand?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir. I have said that other measures are now being taken to expand the machinery.
Mr. HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman look into the question of removing some of the existing red-tape difficulties?
§ Sir S. HoareIf the hon. Gentleman will send me details as to what he has in mind, I will certainly see what can be done to expedite the present machinery.
§ 34. Captain W. T. Shawasked the Home Secretary whether he will give the names of those serving on the Co-ordination Committee, also those serving on the Inter-Aid Committee, dealing with the German refugee problem; and whether on these committees there are representatives specially selected because of their knowledge and interest in British labour questions?
§ Sir S. HoareAs the list of the names of the organisations which are members of the Co-ordinating Committee for Refugees is rather long, I propose with my hon. Friend's permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Representatives of the Trades Union Congress and Labour party are included in the list.
§ Captain ShawCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether either of these committees deal with the evacuation of the children when the term of training and education is finished, and can he give a guarantee that when their term of training is completed, they will not be allowed to engage in work in competition with the youth of this country, who find it difficult to get employment?
§ Sir S. HoareI think my hon. and gallant Friend had better put down a specific question about these children. The question on the Paper deals with a much wider issue.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the general principle that every refugee received into this country is only an incitement to foreign rulers to get rid of people who, in their opinion, are either racially or politically undesirable, and that that makes great difficulties for this country?
§ Sir S. HoareIt is impossible to deal with a general question of that kind in answer to a supplementary question. I have several times made the Government's position clear to the House, 579 namely, that we deal with these cases individually on their merits. By that policy we stand.
§ Miss WilkinsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very great deal of public feeling in this country that would welcome these unfortunate people for the honour of our country?
§ 35. Captain Shawasked the Home Secretary the numbers of German refugees admitted to this country since 13th November, and how many of the entrants were adults?
§ Sir S. HoareAmong the numerous Germans who come into this country every day there are some who, having been admitted for a visit or as students, subsequently apply to be allowed to stay as refugees; and it is not possible to say how many of the arrivals recorded from day to day by the port officers can properly be classified as refugees.
§ Captain ShawCan my right hon. Friend say how many of those who have entered this country have been recommended by these committees?
§ Sir S. HoareI could not possibly answer that question without notice, but I can say generally that we find the advice of these committees extremely valuable in selecting cases and in deciding which of them are suitable for admission to this country.
§ Brigadier-General Sir Henry CroftWhen will my right hon. Friend be in a position to give the number of adult male workers who have come in, because the matter is exciting a very great deal of interest among the unemployed?
§ Sir S. HoareI have already given a figure of that kind, as I think my hon. and gallant Friend will recollect. What I did not do was to give a day-to-day figure. The Prime Minister said only a week or two ago that 11,000 refugees had been settled in this country, and I added the information that, as a result of that, as far as I could gather, about 15,000 British workers had been employed who would not otherwise have been employed.
§ Lieut.-Commander AgnewAre these people allowed to take employment?