Lieut.-Colonel Clarkeasked the Home Secretary what is the approximate number of Spanish refugees now resident in this country; what proportion of them has been brought to this country in British ships, and how many of them are without financial resources of any kind; and whether any arrangements are being, or are to be, made by the Government to provide for their maintenance in cases of necessity?
§ Mr. LloydIf my hon. Friend has in mind refugees from Spain who are of Spanish nationality, I am not aware that any such persons have been brought to the United Kingdom in His Majesty's ships. Among the ordinary passengers of non-British nationality who have been admitted to this country in the usual way as visitors during the last seven months, there have been a number of Spanish nationals, but it is not possible from the information furnished, by them on arrival at the ports to estimate how many of these could be classified as refugees. A record has, however, been kept of those who, after being admitted for some temporary purpose, have subsequently applied to the Home Office for extension of their stay in circumstances which indicate that they do not wish to return to Spain under present conditions. The number to whom extensions have been granted up to date is 157. No information has been received that any of these persons have become a public charge.