§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the number of British subjects who have been serving in East Africa for up to 10 years without leave and who now desire to get home to this country; and what action he is taking to ensure that further shipping facilities are made available for their transport home or, alternatively, to ensure that those with the longest service are given the first priority in such vessels as become available.
§ Mr. BarnesAbout 2,800 persons are registered as awaiting passage from East Africa to the United Kingdom. Every effort is made to provide for this route an equitable share of the shipping space available, and the shipping provided has recently been increased. During June over 800 persons were enabled to obtain homeward passages from East Africa. Allocation of available passages among the claimants is dealt with locally and I have no doubt that length of service among other considerations is taken into account.