§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how much money has been contributed by each of the Dominions and Crown Colonies towards Naval Defence during the year 1928; what proportion of the money contributed by each of the Dominions and Crown Colonies during this period bears in each case to their total import and export trade and per capita of their population, respectively; and how these figures compare with Great Britain's contributions under those heads?
§ Mr. AMERYThe contribution of the Dominions to Naval Defence takes the form of maintenance of their own naval forces and establishments by His Majesty's Governments in Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa. The amounts provided in the Estimates of the undermentioned parts of the Empire for the year 1928–29 are as follow:
Great Britain £57,300,000 Canada $2,725,000 Commonwealth of Australia £3,386,999 New Zealand £710,861 (including £125,000 instalment of the contribution to the Singapore Base). Union of South Africa £98,200 The proportion of expenditure on Naval Defence to the total import and 395W export trade of these parts of the Empire is as follows:
Per cent. Great Britain 2.81 Canada .12 Commonwealth of Australia 1.17 New Zealand .70 Union of South Africa .06 Expenditure per caput of population:
Great Britain £1 5s. 1d. Canada $0.20 Commonwealth of Australia 10s. 9d. New Zealand 9s. 9d. Union of South Africa (European population only) 1s. 2d. NOTES.—(a) The figures for import and export trade on which the calculations are based are preliminary totals only and are subject to revision.
(b) Where figures of population or trade for 1928 are not available, the figure for 1927 has been used.
As regards Colonies not possessing responsible Government, the position remains as described in my replies to the
Insured Persons classified as belonging to the Coal Mining Industry recorded as unemployed in North Wales. Date. Wholly Unemployed. Temporarily stopped. Total. 26th November, 1928 … … … 1,515 314 1,829 17th December, 1928 … … … 1,505 301 1,806 21st January, 1228 … … … 1,412 124 1,536 The approximate number of coal mining vacancies filled by Employment Exchanges in the North Wales coalfield during the three months ended 25th February is 220. Of these about 35 were filled by applicants in the North Wales area, 160 were filled by applicants from South Wales, and the remainder from other areas. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Mr. C. P. Williams) on 13th February.