REFUGEES. (Hansard, 23 November 1938)

§ 16. Colonel Wedgwood
asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that delays of three months and over occur in the issue of visas to Jewish children from Germany after all guarantees have been given; will he state the reasons for the delay; and can the business be expedited, in view of the increasing danger to the children?

§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)
I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on the 17th instant to a question by the hon. Member for the English Universities (Miss Rathbone). As regards the latter part of the question, a scheme has been agreed with the Inter-Aid Committee for Children to eliminate all delay so far as His Majesty's Government are concerned in the grant of facilities to children who are to be brought to this country for educational purposes under the care of the committee.

§ Colonel Wedgwood
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that only last week I gave him the names of three children whom we have been trying to get out of Germany since August, and can he do nothing to hasten cases of that sort?

§ Mr. Lloyd
There have been some delays in the past particularly in regard to private persons who wished to take children and whose cases were referred to the Inter-Aid Committee. I would point out that the situation has now been transformed by the new arrangements explained by my right hon. Friend, and that we had a meeting with the Inter-Aid Committee at the Home Office yesterday at which detailed arrangements were agreed.

§ Colonel Wedgwood
Does that mean that we must apply all over again in the case of these children? Why should there be any reference to the Inter-Aid Committee when there are people ready to take the children and give the necessary guarantees?

§ Mr. Lloyd
It will not be necessary to make another application for them, but I have replied to the question on the Paper, and indicated that large-scale arrangements have now been made to deal with this problem.

§ Sir P. Harris
Has the Department considered expanding this section of the Home Office owing to the increased amount of work, so that the work may be expedited? Some of these cases occupy three months. Undoubtedly that is not entirely the fault of the Department. Can there be some indication that the staff of the Department will be increased?

§ Mr. Lloyd
Yes, Sir, the reply of my right hon. Friend to which I referred in the first part of my answer indicated that an expansion was taking place at the Home Office.

§ Colonel Wedgwood
But is the delay due to the hon. Gentleman's Department, or to the Foreign Office, or to the Woburn House Committee?

§ Mr. Lloyd
I should not like to allocate to any particular body responsibility for the delay in the last few months. It was admitted by my right hon. Friend, and it was due to the great pressure of the work. Now there is to be an expansion at the Home Office and the Inter-Aid Committee are also greatly expanding their staff.

Mr. Alexander
Will the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs take note of the fact that there is great pressure in the embassies abroad, especially in Berlin, and help them there if he can?