HC Deb 15 June 1938 vol 337 cc197-8
12. Miss Rathbone

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Nansen office is under the urgent necessity of finding a place of refuge for the 16 Russian refugees still remaining on the Greek island of Syros, whom the Greek Government refuses to allow to remain any longer; also that Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Jugoslavia, Belgium, and several other countries have already contributed to this problem, either by admitting or finding maintenance for Nansen refugees or by paying for the maintenance elsewhere, while His Majesty's Government has hitherto done nothing to assist the Nansen office financially except by paying its share of administration expenses due to the League of Nations; and whether, in view of these facts, His Majesty's Government will agree either to receive the 16 refugees or to provide £2,000 for their maintenance elsewhere?

Mr. Butler

Since the answer to this question contains a full statement and is therefore rather long I will, with the hon. Lady's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

His Majesty's Government were approached last year by the President of the Governing Body of the Nansen Office in regard to the position of these refugees and expressed their readiness to admit 10 to the United Kingdom on condition that they were in a position to undertake some form of employment in the United Kingdom and that the Nansen Office or a charitable organisation would be responsible for their maintenance for an initial period after their arrival in the United Kingdom. An examination of the refugees in question was thereupon conducted by His Majesty's Consular Officer concerned and the matter was considered in consultation with the interested charitable organisation in the United Kingdom. The conclusion was reluctantly reached with the full concurrence of that organisation that these refugees could not be admitted to the United Kingdom as it was unlikely that they could become self-supporting, and there were no funds available either from public or private sources to maintain them after their arrival. As regards the proposal that a grant should be made by His Majesty's Government to maintain these refugees elsewhere, it is not possible to depart from the practice of His Majesty's Government that grants from public funds should not be made to the Nansen Office for the settlement and relief of refugees.