§ 35. Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of distressed persons allowed to enter this country during the past 12 months under the scheme which he announced to this House on 13th November, 1945.
§ 38. Mr. Wilkesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of displaced persons who have entered this country under the emergency scheme announced in November, 1945.
§ Mr. EdeI am glad to say that facilities for transport from Germany have now improved, and the number of distressed relatives identified at the ports as arriving under this scheme up to the 18th November is 2,525.
§ Mr. OrbachIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's statement on 13th November, 1945, that this scheme was a first step, is he now prepared to extend the categories under the scheme?
§ Mr. EdeNo, Sir, not at the moment, because it took some considerable time for this scheme to get under way, and we are now beginning to reap the fruits of the visit which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary paid to the Continent a short time ago in order to expedite the flow; but as soon as I feel confident that the machine will not be overwhelmed by fresh applications, I shall consider extending the categories.
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanWhile congratulating my right hon. Friend on the great 1007 improvement in recent months, may I ask if he can say how may applications are still outstanding?