§ 71. Mr. Perkinsasked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the House any information as to the total number of Irish labourers that have arrived in this country during 1938 and 1939; and whether he will immediately introduce legislation to control the flow of Irish and other labourers into this country?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Lennox-Boyd)No separate figures for labourers are available but the total number of male migrants entering insured employment in Great Britain was 16,115 in 1938 and 935 in January, 1939. As regards the last part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs on 2nd February last to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) and the hon. Member for Stockport (Sir A. Gridley).
§ Mr. PerkinsCan my hon. Friend say whether these men will find employment in this country in consequence of any action by the Employment Exchanges?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydObviously the Exchanges cannot refuse to issue unemployment books to any man who is accepted for insured employment by an employer. That applies to all British subjects.
§ Mr. ManderOught we not to be more patriotic and put the Empire first?
§ Mr. MacquistenIs it not a fact that if Ireland was a Republic, all these men would be aliens?
§ Mr. ThorneIs it not a fact that all these Irish labourers come and find work for themselves?