HC Deb 01 August 1940 vol 363 c1399
40. Mr. Mander

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of refusing further exit permits for children from this country to the Dominions and the United States of America until arrangements have been made for equal facilities for all classes, regardless of wealth, to participate therein?

Sir J. Anderson

Exit permits are not required by persons under 16 years of age; but it is proposed, in pursuance of the assurance given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement on 18th July, to make other arrangements to ensure that in any further emigration of children overseas the balance between classes shall be restored.

Mr. Mander

Does that mean that persons who have money and are using it to send children abroad, whereas the poor cannot do so, will in future have no advantage over the poor?

Sir J. Anderson

It means, as my right hon. Friend said, that a true balance will be established between the children of the well-to-do who pay for their passage and children emigrated under the Government scheme.

Viscountess Astor

Is it not true that the Government never had any class bias in their scheme and that many working people would have sent their children if they had been in a position to do so?