HC Deb 27 February 1958 vol 583 c526
26. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the President of the Board of Trade why there are no records kept of the growing migration of British subjects over the short sea routes; and whether he will give approximately the number of these people coming from Ireland, and the number going back.

Sir D. Eccles

As the migration of British subjects represents only a very small proportion of the exceptionally heavy passenger traffic on the short sea routes, it is very difficult to collect full information on migrants without adding considerably to frontier formalities; but discussions are being held with other Departments to consider what information could be collected.

I understand that 68,500 persons arriving from the Irish Republic applied for National Insurance cards in 1957; information is not available about those returning.

Mr. Johnson

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that while this process continues and these migrations go on, any population statistics are inaccurate, and will he begin to do here what he told me he would do about the air migration statistics; that is to say, have an accurate record kept?

Sir D. Eccles

There is a review in progress, and I hope that it will not be too long before we have a result.