HC Deb 10 February 1938 vol 331 cc1241-2
27. Commander Bower

asked the Home Secretary whether in the last six months any further requests for the issue of permits for entrance into this country of Basque children have been made to his Department; and, if so, whether he can give details?

Sir S. Hoare

The only applications which can be traced are in respect of two Basque girls, who were refugees in France.

28. Commander Bower

asked the Home Secretary the number of Basque children who have now been returned to their native country; and the number who still remain here?

Sir S. Hoare

The number of Basque children who have left the country is 1,073. The number remaining is 2,749.

Mr. Thurtle

Can the Home Secretary say in how many cases of these children that have been returned to Bilbao they have found that their fathers have been executed by General Franco?

Sir S. Hoare

I could not say without notice, and I should be much surprised if there has been any such case.

29. Commander Bower

asked the Home Secretary the maximum period during which any Basque children have now been in this country; whether they are now required to have passports; and whether in respect of passport regulations they are treated collectively or individually?

Sir S. Hoare

These children all arrived together on 23rd May last. Children under the age of 16 do not require passports, and the last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Commander Bower

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that these collective passports should, as far as possible, be replaced by individual passports, in view of the wide dispersal of the parents of these children, and especially in view of the unfortunate relations which the partiality of the Bilbao Children's Committee has engendered with General Franco's Government?

Sir S. Hoare

I do not think any change is necessary in the ordinary procedure. We never require passports for young persons under 16, but in all cases we require full particulars.

Mr. Benn

Before the right hon. Gentleman assists the campaign for the repatriation of these children, will he inform himself how many children were massacred by Nationalist air raids recently?