HC Deb 22 January 1948 vol 446 cc361-2
30. Mr. John E. Haire

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of emigrants from this country to the various Dominions since the end of the war; the number of immigrants to this country from the same Dominions; and corresponding figures for the same period after World War I.

Mr. H. Wilson

Average monthly figures for emigrants to the Dominions were just over 11,000 for 1919, 1920 and 1921 and just over 6,000 to the same Dominions from the end of the last war to September, 1947. Corresponding figures for immigrants are 3,700 and 1,900. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate detailed figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Haire

Would my right hon. Friend give the widest publicity to this sort of information because there has been much comment, much of which is mistaken, on the question of emigration?

Mr. Wilson

I think that this Question and answer will give whatever publicity is required.

Mr. Thornton-Kemsley

Is there not also the factor of shortage of shipping at present, and is it not true that a large number of people want to go who are unable to obtain passages?

Mr. Wilson

There is such a shortage, and there was at the end of the last war as well.

Following are the figures:

NUMBER OF BRITISH MIGRANTS TRAVELLING DIRECT BY SEA BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNDERMENTIONED DOMINIONS DURING THE YEARS 1919, 1920, 1921, 1946 AND THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1947.
— Year. British Emigrants from the United Kingdom. British Immigrants into the United Kingdom.
British North 1919 79,109 34,435
America (a). 1920 118,837 24,341
1921 67,907 21,055
1946 53,000 9,000
1947* 14,765 5,847
Australia … 1919 12,545 6,171
1920 28,974 12,854
1921 27,751 8,861
1946 10,000 5,000
1947* 8,096 3,948
New Zealand 1919 4,455 2,304
1920 14,853 2,568
1921 11,513 1,568
1946 6,000 1,500
1947* 4,584 2,167
British South 1919 4,756 6,215
Africa (b). 1920 15,157 7.313
1921 12,903 5,894
1946 11.000 9,000
1947* 19,057 3.667
(a) Canada and Newfoundland. Separate figures are not available.
(b) Separate figures for the Union of South Africa are not available. The figures include migrants to and from Southern Rhodesia and other British countries in the area.
* Particulars relate to the first nine months of 1947.