§ Major GLYNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how ex-service men with or without their families have been given assisted passages and financial advances to enable them to settle in the self-governing Dominions since the inauguration of the scheme; how far are these facilities being made use of to-day; to what extent have facilities been curtailed: and what has so far been the total cost to the British and Dominion Governments?
§ Mr. AMERYUnder the Government free passage scheme for ex-service men and women and their dependents which came into operation on 8th April, 1919, and was closed on 31st December, 1922, 39,419 ex-service men (or 86,027 persons including dependents, etc.) were granted free passages to enable them to settle in other parts of the Empire. The cost of this scheme, which was entirely borne by His Majesty's Government, was £2,419,300. The schemes of assisted migration now in operation arranged1386W under the terms of the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, are applicable to all suitable and approved British subjects resident in the United Kingdom, including ex-service men, and figures are not available to show the numbers of ex-service men who have gone overseas under these schemes. A statement of the schemes arranged under the Empire Settlement Act was circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT of the 10th March last. The total amount expended by His Majesty's Government under the Empire Settlement Act up to 30th September, 1925, was £1,018,245, of which amount £416,675, issued in the forms of loans, is recoverable. Detailed information regarding the expenditure incurred by the Dominion Governments is not available. The basis of the Empire Settlement Act is that His Majesty's Government cannot bear more than half the expenditure incurred.