§ 18. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Home Secretary how many refugees have been admitted to England since the 30th September last; and what proportion of this number are by race Aryan and what proportion Jewish?
§ Sir S. HoareSince 30th September, approximately 6,000 refugees from Germany have been admitted to the United Kingdom. In this country there is no official system of classifying people by race or religion.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not the case that during the same period a considerable number of Nazi Germans have returned to Germany, and are daily returning?
§ 22. Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary, concerning child refugees from Germany, why guarantee forms are no longer available at the Inter-Aid Department; whether the Home Office have changed the rules about such guarantees; and if so, is it to be made more difficult to save these children?
§ Sir S. HoareThere has been no change in the Home Office rules, and the Home Office has done nothing to make it more difficult to bring child refugees to this country. 2,400 children have already been admitted under the special arrangements made with the Movement for the Care of Children from Germany, and other parties are expected. I understand, however, that the extent to which the Movement can undertake responsibility for further numbers of children and the rapidity with which arrangements can be made for their admission must depend on the number of offers they receive to provide homes and help for such children.
§ Colonel WedgwoodDoes it not depend also upon money being available from the Baldwin Fund? Is not that fund available for these children? And why is one unable at the present moment to get these gurantee forms?
§ Sir S. HoareI will look into the last point raised by the right hon. Gentleman. As to the Baldwin Fund, I, of course, have no responsibility for it, and I do not know anything of the details regarding it.
§ Colonel WedgwoodWho is responsible? Is there anyone here to answer?
§ 23. Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary why Lord Baldwin's Fund for refugees is not being used to provide guarantees for those persecuted people who have no friends here able to give guarantees, more particularly for men in concentration camps who might be let out if they could get a British visa?
§ Sir S. HoareDecisions as to how the fund shall be used are matters for the trustees, and I have no doubt that the arrangements they are making will secure that the best possible use shall be made of the money available for assisting refugees.
§ Colonel WedgwoodSeeing that very large funds have been raised for this purpose, is there any means of getting anyone on the Front Bench to answer for the trustees, as the matter is one of public importance?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir, I certainly do not think that any answer could be given from this Bench, as no Minister is responsible in any way, directly or indirectly.
§ Colonel WedgwoodWho is responsible?
§ Sir S. HoareThe trustees.
§ Sir Joseph NallHave the Charity Commissioners any control in this matter?
§ Sir S. HoareI have no more knowledge than my hon. Friend has.