HC Deb 18 July 1947 vol 440 cc87-8W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the total numbers of Displaced Persons in the British zone of Germany as at 1st June last, giving their nationality in categories as far as possible; how many of these persons have now come to the United Kingdom or to British Dominions to fill appointments; and what steps have been taken to advertise in camps and other centres the kind of work for which there are vacancies in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Mayhew

There were 246,000 displaced persons in the British zone of Germany on 1st June, 1947. Their nationalities are:

Poles 113,700
Latvians 40,500
Lithuanians 20,200
Esthonians 10,800
Yugoslavs 14,900
Roumanians 3,000
Hungarians 2,900
Others and un-determined 40,000
Under the "Westward Ho" scheme approximately 16,000 volunteers have reached this country. Of these 8,404 have arrived since 1st June. A small number of displaced persons have left the British zone for Canada under the close relatives scheme. I regret that exact figures are not available. The contracts on which displaced persons are recruited do not specify any particular type of employment, but there has been no lack of volunteers. Posters will shortly be exhibited in displaced persons camps giving details of our various undermanned industries.