86. Vice-Admiral Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the arrangements made in the case of Polish nationals who, though not serving in the Armed Forces, materially contributed to the national effort on behalf of the Allies and who do not wish to return to Poland.
Mr. McNeilAll civilian Poles in this country may register for employment with the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that His Majesty's Government have already done a very great deal to assist Poles outside; the Armed Forces through the Interim Treasury Committee for Polish Questions. This assistance was, however, on a provisional basis and His Majesty's Government cannot continue to maintain these special arrangements indefinitely. The main categories of Polish nationals who, though not serving in the armed forces, materially contributed to the national effort are the civil servants of the former Polish Government in London and the members of the Polish Merchant Navy.
As regards the former, a number are still employed by the Interim Treasury 257W Committee for Polish Questions, which also provides retraining facilities on a limited scale. It is hoped that these facilities will be extended. Others have already obtained employment approved by the Minister of Labour.
As regards members of the Polish Merchant Navy, a number of these seamen who served in Polish merchant ships under British control during the war have expressed unwillingness to go on serving under the control of the Polish Provisional Government. These men have been given leave to land in this country and to take shore employment with the permission of the Minister of Labour and National Service. It has proved impossible to absorb more than a few of them into the British Merchant Navy. We are, however, helping the Polish Merchant seamen to travel abroad in search of other employment, and it is hoped that a good many of them will thus be found jobs afloat.