§ Sir C. YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the 1240W British refugees from Russia, now living in a state of semi-starvation on outdoor relief or else in the workhouse, are now being pressed by the Foreign Office to refund the cost of their repatriation; and, if so, will he discontinue these demands which it is impossible for them to meet?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEUnder the regulations the Foreign Office is hound to recover, if possible, the sums expended on the repatriation of distressed British subjects abroad. In the case of refugees from Russia, no claim has been pressed where inability to refund has been proved or serious hardship would result. Difficulty has been experienced in some cases in ascertaining the financial position of the persons concerned, but an arrangement has recently been come to with the General Council for the assistance of the British repatriated from Russia that all cases will be referred to them before a claim is made for a refund, the Council having kindly consented to furnish the Foreign Office with full information as to the ability or otherwise of the repatriated persons to repay.