HC Deb 06 July 1948 vol 453 cc200-1
52. Brigadier Rayner

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a married man wishing to emigrate to Canada today with his wife and family is allowed to take only £250 with him, and that this is not more than is allowed to a single man emigrating to that Dominion; and whether arrangements can be made to provide better facilities for those wishing to emigrate to Canada with their families.

Sir S. Cripps

The emigration ration is £1,000 per family, payable over four years in equal annual instalments. I have carefully considered the suggestion that the family might be allowed a larger ration than the individual but I am afraid that I cannot accept it. In view of our dollar difficulties I could not at present agree to increase the overall expenditure on emigration to Canada. To make any worthwhile increase in the allowance to families without increasing the total cost would mean a further reduction in the allowance to the single man.

Brigadier Rayner

In view of the dangerous density of our population at the present time, and the need to reinforce the Commonwealth with good British stock, will not the Chancellor reconsider this measure, which is stopping a good deal of quite reasonable emigration? Will he go into it again?

Sir S. Cripps

I am afraid not, because we are already short of manpower in this country.