§ Sir W. Smilesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Gibraltarian evacuees still remain in the camps in Northern Ireland; and when will these people be repatriated to Gibraltar.
Mr. Creech JonesThere are now 482 Gibraltar evacuees in the Northern Ireland camps, as against some 1,300 at the beginning of the year. There have been three repatriation parties this year, and a further party leaving this month will include 89 evacuees from the camps. One hundred and three of the remaining evacuees have been granted priority for early repatriation. It is not possible to50W indicate when those without priority will be repatriated, but every effort is being made to close the camps before the end of this year. May I express appreciation of the continued service which the Northern Ireland Government has given in helping us with this difficult task.