HC Deb 24 March 1939 vol 345 cc1598-600W
Wing-Commander James

asked the Home Secretary whether he has now been able to arrange for the periodical issue of a return showing the arrival and departure of alien refugees; and whether this return will be made in the most informative and comprehensive form possible?

Sir S. Hoare

I hope the following statement will give useful information. I am arranging for periodic returns to be made giving similar information in the future.

The following figures relate to persons who, on arrival in this country, were over 18 years of age.

Between March, 1933, and March, 1938, there arrived in this country the following number of persons from Germany who could be classified as refugees:—

Men. Women.
4,325. 3,310.

Of these, 2,058 went out again during the same period, so that the total number of refugees from Germany in this country on 31st March, 1938, was 5,577.

Between 1st April, 1938, and 31st October, 1938, there arrived in this country the following number of refugees:—

German.
Men. Women.
1,151. 869.
Austrian.
Men. Women.
1,425. 1055.

During the same period 362 German refugees and 167 Austrian refugees left the country.

Between 1st November, 1938, and 28th February, 1939, there arrived in this country the following number of refugees:—

German.
Men. Women.
845. 512.
Austrian.
Men. Women.
2,217. 1,567.
Czech.
Men. Women.
357. 169.

During the same period 255 German refugees and 311 Austrian refugees left the country.

The number of refugees in this country on the 28th February, 1939, was as follows:—

German.
Men. Women.
4,674. 3,663.
Austrian.
Men. Women.
3,340. 2,446.
Czech.
Men. Women.
357. 169.

In addition to the adults comprised in the figures given above, the following number of children and young persons under the age of 18 have arrived:—

German 3,679
Austrian 688
Czech 37
Total 4,404

The enumeration of those under the age of 18 who have since left has not yet been undertaken.