§ Mr. R. WILSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of workers and their families who have received assisted passages to our Colonies, and the amount of financial support thus given during the past six months?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREDuring the past six months, the number of persons (men, women and children) who have been granted assisted passages from this country to the Oversea Dominions is 12,512. Of these, 8,216 have received free rail and ocean passages under the Government scheme for ex-service men at a cost to His Majesty's Government of £236,478 8s. 9d. 3,532 have been granted assisted passages to Australia, and 764 to New Zealand under the Empire Settlement Act at a cost to His Majesty's Government of £32,373, £5,147 of which is by way of loan and is repayable.
§ Sir M. COTTSasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the provisions being made for emigration, the Government will arrange to appoint a party of Members 1825W of this House to visit the Colonies for the purpose of eliciting first-hand information with regard to arrangements for the satisfactory settlement of persons proceeding under the Empire Settlement Act?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREEvery effort will be made, in consultation with any Oversea Government with which schemes may be agreed under the Empire Settlement Act, to arrange for the satisfactory settlement of persons accepted under such schemes, and to obtain full information regarding the process of settlement. My hon. Friend's suggestion will be borne in mind, but it seems somewhat doubtful whether it would be desirable to appoint a party of Members of this House to make inquires of the kind suggested.
§ Mr. McENTEEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been entered into to take advantage of the offers made by overseas Government authorities in 1921 to station in the United Kingdom practical experts and instructors for the purpose of co-operating with public authorities throughout Great Britain in preparing prospective emigrants for overseas settlement and employment?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am not clear what offers on the part of oversea Governments the hon. Member has in mind. His Majesty's Government would be prepared to consider carefully any proposals made by oversea Governments for cooperation under the Empire Settlement in the provision of practical expert instructors in this country for the purpose of training persons who contemplate settling overseas. The general view of oversea authorities is, however, that training with a view to settlement in the Dominions should be undertaken after arrival overseas rather than before departure from this country.