HC Deb 20 June 1940 vol 362 c261W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Home Secretary whether the sum of £324,000 proved the maximum contribution paid by the Treasury for the purposes of the relief of refugees, German and other, in this country; whether this sum includes the £100,000 that has been paid to voluntary organisations in respect of the last four months of 1939 based on a £ for a £ contribution paid by the public for this purpose; and what has been the total sum expended on the maintenance of refugees in this country both by local authorities and the Exchequer between August, 1939, and June, 1940?

Sir J. Anderson

The contribution made by the Treasury towards the expenditure of the voluntary organisations who have been befriending refugees from Nazi oppression amounted up to the end of May to the sum of £234,000 and this sum includes the £100,000 contributed in respect of the last four months of 1939. It is not possible to say what additional expenditure may have been incurred by local authorities in respect of persons admitted to hospitals or by the Assistance Board, but these sums are quite small, since the main burden of maintaining the refugees who have been unable to obtain employment has been borne by the voluntary committees. The Treasury contribution has been considerably less than half their expenditure, and the major share has been met by voluntary contributions.