§ 31. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Common wealth Relations to what extent it is the policy of his Department, before granting an application for assisted passage to Australia, to satisfy itself that accommodation will be available there of a suitable standard for the individual applicant.
§ Mr. AlportIf assisted emigrants to Australia proceed under nominations, the nominators have to satisfy the Australian authorities that suitable accommodation is available. Assisted emigrants without nominations may, if they wish, avail themselves of hostel accommodation provided by the Australian authorities until they can make their own arrangements.
§ 34. Mr. V. Yatesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what report he has received from the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Australia about Mr. Michael Plunkett, formerly of 7, Darnley Road, Ladywood, Birmingham, an emigrant assisted by his Department, who was taken seriously ill before reaching his destination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlportThe hon. Member will have received the letter which my right hon. and noble Friend sent to him on 3rd June. I have today received from our High Commissioner a further report which I am forwarding to the hon. Member immediately.
§ Mr. YatesIs it not tragic that when a young man who emigrates to Australia is stricken with illness on the ship before he arrives at his destination and the medical authorities consider that his recovery would be assisted by a sight of one of his family, the family is not in a financial position to send someone out there? Is it not the responsibility of the Minister to assist this family in some way so that they can make contact with this young man, instead of leaving it to the Press to send out a record of the voice of the family?
§ Mr. AlportI have the greatest sympathy with this case, which is a very tragic one, but the hon. Member knows from the information which my noble Friend has been able to supply him—and he will see further from the information that I am sending him today—that there is some disagreement as to how far this youth at this time would benefit from the sort of contact to which the hon. Member has referred. However, I can assure him that whereas I know of no resources which are available to my noble Friend to assist in this matter, the Australian Government have always shown themselves extremely sympathetic in personal cases of a tragic nature of this sort.