HC Deb 03 May 1926 vol 195 cc53-5W
Sir J. PENNEFATHER

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can state the number of men, women and children, respectively, who are in- eluded in the 1,657 families which have been accepted under the scheme for the settlement of 3,000 British families on the land in Canada; why no additional families can be accepted for sailing this year; and how many families are on the waiting list for acceptance next year?

Mr. AMERY

I should be glad if my hon. Friend would be good enough to repeat the first part of his question a week hence, as complete figures are not yet available. So far as concerns the 457 families who sailed under this scheme up to 31st December, 1925, however, the figures asked for are as follows:

Men 535
Women 518
Juveniles (12–18 years of age):
Males 301
Females 211
Children (under 12):
Males 514
Females 495
Total 2,574

These families are settled on prepared farms, and 1,200 is the maximum number of farms which can be made ready for occupation during the present year. The number of families on the waiting list for acceptance next year is 200.

Sir J. PENNEFATHER

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how much of the money expended in connection with assisted passages under the Empire Settlement Act of 1922 is irrecoverable, and how much of it may be regarded as loans to be repaid; and whether the Dominion Governments have expended an equal, larger, or smaller sum in connection with the same assisted passages?

Mr. AMERY

The following statement shows the expenditure on assisted passages and the amount provided by way of loans under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, during the years 1922 to 1925:

Expenditure. Loans.
£ £
1922–1923 … … 35,467 4,452
1923–1924 … … 415,478 183,507
1924–1925 … … 389,202 139,156
1925–1926 … … 429,578 117,948

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 under agreed schemes, and in no case do they do so.