§ 11. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in each of the priority categories have applied, or had application made on their behalf, for admission to the United Kingdom up to 31st May, 1946; how many of such applications have been 2136 granted; and how many of such persons have entered the United Kingdom.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)Owing to pressure of work in passport control offices abroad, detailed statistics have not been kept of the numbers of applications made and of visas granted, and the information asked for in the first two parts of the Question is not available. With regard to the third part, up to 31st May 979 foreigners arriving in the United Kingdom had been identified as coming under this scheme.
§ Mr. PiratinIs the Minister aware that this works out to a total of about 20 or 30 a week since the scheme was announced last November, can he declare himself satisfied with that situation and, if not, will he take steps to speed up the admission of people who have made applications?
§ Mr. EdeThe hon. Gentleman's arithmetic appears to be correct. With regard to whether I am satisfied or not, the reply is that I am not satisfied, but the matter is not entirely within my control. The flow is steadily increasing and I hope that the full stream will very soon be flowing.
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanDoes my right hon. Friend know that it is being widely said that since he announced this scheme last November not a single person in a displaced persons camp in Germany has benefited by it, and can he say whether that statement is true?
§ Mr. EdeI have not heard the statement and would not, therefore, like to contradict it without having an opportunity of going into details.