§ 15. Mr. William Shepherdasked the Minister of Labour if he is now prepared to grant permits to Italians to undertake agricultural and mining work, where they desire to return to this country for the purpose of marrying English women.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ness Edwards)Subject to the usual safeguards, sympathetic consideration will be given to individual cases.
§ Mr. ShepherdDoes the hon. Gentleman's answer indicate a change of policy? Are we to take it that, henceforth, cases can be submitted with a reasonable prospect of success?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI do not think that I can do more than reiterate what I have said in the answer. Sympathetic consideration will be given to individual cases, and in that sense it represents a widening of the door.
§ Mr. MarplesIs the hon. Gentleman aware of a case which I recently sent to 222 him, of an English girl who had a child by an Italian, that the Italian wished to return to this country to work as an agricultural labourer, and to marry the girl, but was not given permission by his Department?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI should be obliged if the hon. Gentleman would refer that case to my Department again.