HC Deb 18 March 1946 vol 420 cc1514-5
29. Mr. Maclay

asked the Minister of War Transport what numbers of civilian passengers are registered with his Ministry, or with booking agents, as awaiting passages to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, respectively; and how many such passengers he expects will be cleared monthly, on an average, to each destination throughout the next 12 months.

Mr. Barnes

The crude figures of numbers of passengers registered would not convey any useful information. Many of the registrations are duplicated and the figures would give no reliable indication of the effective demand for passages. As regards the second part of the Question, accommodation likely to be available for civilian passages depends very largely upon the demands for repatriation of our troops overseas and it is not possible to give any reliable forecast for more than a few weeks ahead. I am, however, fully aware of the importance of transporting civilians to the Dominions, and I am using every available opportunity to the full.

Mr. Maclay

While I appreciate the great difficulty with which the Minister is faced in dealing with this question of moving civilian passengers, does he not realise that this is causing a great deal of feeling among Dominion citizens; and has he considered making a public statement not only to the Dominion Governments, but to Dominion citizens, if necessary by issuing pamphlets, explaining the difficulties?

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Has the Minister seen Press reports to the effect that Australian soldiers in Melbourne are threatening a demonstration because their wives are not given passages by his Department to go out to them; and that the present policy of his Department is very severely restricting immigration?

Mr. Barnes

I do not agree that the policy of my Department is restrictive. Icannot accept that for one moment. I am, of course, aware of the feeling which is prevalent, but I must again emphasise to the House that repatriation of our own soldiers who have wives and children waiting for them in this country must have priority. In view of that overriding responsibility, I can assure hon. Members that I am giving this matter constant attention, particularly for the purpose of moving these people to the Dominions.