§ Mr. HUTCHISONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what was the net number of migrants from Great Britain to the Empire during 1931, after making allowance for those who returned to Great Britain during that year; and what was the average cost per head of such outward migration, based on the total cost for 1931 of the Overseas Settlement Department, expenditure on voluntary migration assistance, and under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922?
Mr. THOMASThe number of migrants from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to other parts of the Empire during 1931 was 27,151. The figures of the inward movement were 53,181. There was thus a net inward movement of 26,030 and the second part of the question does not arise. I may add, however, for the hon. Member's information that the cost of the Oversea Settlement Department for 1931 was £19,935. Grants to Voluntary Migration Societies amounted to £27,194, miscellaneous expenditure to £984, and the expenditure under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, to £194,431. Against this must be set Appropriations-in-Aid arising from repayments of previous advances amounting to £28,989. It will be appreciated that by far the greater part of the year's expenditure was in respect of migration which had taken place in previous years.