§ Mr. PETOasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will favourably consider a grant from the funds provided for overseas settlement to approved centres for giving a short preliminary training for agricultural and other outdoor occupations in order to provide a means of selecting those most suitable and adaptable, and fitting them to some extent for life in the Dominions?
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYI regret that I have little to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend on the 26th March. I am personally disposed to favour a short and simple course of elementary training in this country and am considering the possibilities of schemes of this nature. But as my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the contribu-2306W tions of His Majesty's Government to any scheme under the Empire Settlement Act may not exceed half the expenses of the scheme; and as was indicated in my answer of the 26th March, no Dominion Government has expressed a desire to co-operate in a scheme of this nature.
§ Mr. PETOasked the Minister of Health whether he will issue a circular letter to boards of guardians, calling their attention to the powers they have of assisting prospective emigrants by giving training grants to fit unemployed persons for agricultural occupations overseas?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI understand that the Oversea Settlement Committee are awaiting certain proposals for the establishment of training camps in this country, and, pending the receipt of these proposals, I think it would be premature to consider the issue of a circular of the kind referred to. I would point out, however, that the general attitude of all the oversea authorities is that training should be undertaken on arrival overseas rather than before departure from this country.