REFUGEES (GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE). (Hansard, 1 February 1940)

§ Sir J. Anderson

As the House knows, most of the refugees were admitted to the United Kingdom with a view to their ultimate emigration overseas and on the understanding that during their stay in this country they would not be allowed to take employment to the detriment of our own people and that those who had no resources of their own, or were not being maintained by relatives, would be maintained by voluntary funds. With a view to promoting overseas settlement the Prime Minister announced on 19th July1302W last that His Majesty's Government were prepared, if the Governments of other countries would agree, to propose a scheme for a Government contribution towards the expenses of emigration with a view to encouraging private subscription.

The outbreak of war altered the position. Although emigration has not been discontinued (since 1st September, 1,200 refugees have been emigrated, and arrangements are being made to send further parties in the next three months), yet large-scale plans for new settlements have had to be put on one side for the time being. Moreover, it is desirable that during the period of the war use should be made of the services of those many refugees who are able and willing to assist in the war effort of this country. Many have volunteered for military service, and suitable applicants are being accepted. Others have special technical experience or skill which can be usefully employed in connection with our production programme, and as already announced arrangements have been made to enable aliens to take employment for the period of the war provided their services are directed into channels where there is a shortage of labour and the Ministry of Labour is satisfied that their employment will not displace British workers.

As the demand for workers increases, it is expected that more of the refugees will be absorbed into suitable occupations. Meanwhile there is still a substantial number of men and women who have to be maintained, and the voluntary organisations which have been bearing the financial responsibility have found themselves unable, under war conditions, to meet the whole charge. It is estimated that since 1933 about £5,000,000 has been spent by these organisations in addition to sums provided by friends and relatives in individual cases, which are estimated to amount to another £3,000,000, and in addition to the help in kind which has been provided by numerous persons who have given refugees hospitality in their homes. In these circumstances, the Government have decided that in this country, as in some other European countries which have given asylum to refugees from Germany, Government assistance should be provided to supplement the voluntary effort. The voluntary organisations are willing 1303W to continue their efforts to raise funds from charitable sources, and the Government are most anxious that any arrangements for a contribution from public funds shall not be regarded as diminishing the need for charitable contributions or transferring the responsibility from the voluntary organisations. The several voluntary organisations have agreed to appoint a representative committee of experienced persons who will exercise a general oversight over the use by the organisations of the grants made to them, with a view to seeing that the money is spent economically and efficiently; and the Government have agreed to pay to that committee a contribution equal to half the expenditure incurred by the voluntary organisations, provided that such expenditure is approved by the said committee, that the total Government grant does not exceed on the average £27,000 per month and that the voluntary organisations will do their utmost to ensure that the refugees shall not become a charge on public assistance.

The committee will include some independent members not connected with the voluntary organisations who have had experience of the administration of the social services. This scheme will operate for six months from 1st January, 1940, but the maximum of £27,000 will be subject to review after the expiration of three months in the light of the numbers then being maintained. The Government have also agreed to pay to the refugee organisations a retrospective contribution of £100,000, as a contribution towards the expenditure they have incurred during the four months since the beginning of the war. The intention of the Government is that the assistance which it is giving shall be a stimulus to the continuation of the voluntary aid in money, kind and hospitality and not least in service. This assistance will be in the form of a Grant-in-Aid and, accordingly, a Supplementary Estimate will be necessary and will be presented in the near future. In the meantime a suitable advance is being made from the Civil Contingencies Fund.