§ Mr. Prescottasked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of persons who have migrated from this country to Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, respectively, within the last two years; how many were male and female, respectively; what were their average ages; and how many received Government assistance and to what total amount.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe following table shows the number of British emigrants travelling direct by sea to the four Dominions concerned during the year 1946 265W and the first nine months of 1947. The average ages of adult emigrants in 1946 were 36 for men and 29 for women. In 1947 they were 37 and 38 respectively.
NUMBER OF BRITISH EMIGRANTS TRAVELLING DIRECT BY SEA TO THE UNDERMENTIONED DOMINIONS DURING THE YEAR 1946 AND THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1947. — Total. MALES. FEMALES. 17 years and over. Under 17 years. 17 years and over. Under 17 years. British North America (a)— Year 1946 … … … … 53,000 5,000 8,000 32,000 8,000 January-September, 1947 … … 14,765 4,862 1,635 6,624 1,644 British South Africa (b)— Year 1946 … … … … 11,000 4,000 1,000 5,000 1,000 January-September, 1947 … … 19,057 7,818 2,154 7,087 1,998 Australia— Year 1946 … … … … 10,000 2,000 1,000 6,000 1,000 January-September, 1947 … … 8,096 2,735 1,009 3,454 898 New Zealand— Year 1946 … … … … 6,000 1,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 January-September, 1947 … … 4,584 1,504 434 2,134 512 Total of above— Year 1946 … … … … 80,000 12 000 11,000 46,000 11,000 January-September, 1947 … … 46,502 16,919 5,232 19,299 5,052 (a) Canada and Newfoundland. Separate figures are not available. (b) The figures include emigrants to Southern Rhodesia and other countries in the area. Separate figures for Union of South Africa are not available. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, that the only general emigration financially assisted by the United Kingdom Government is under the Free and Assisted Passage Schemes arranged between the United Kingdom and Australian Governments. These schemes did not come into general operation until 31st March, 1947. Up to the end of 1947, 2,611 have sailed under the Free Passage Scheme and 2,361 under the Assisted Passage Scheme. The average cost of free passages is approximately £70 for adults and half this figure for children. The cost to the United Kingdom of assisted passages is approximately £30 for adults and rather more than half this figure for children. No detailed figures of total costs are available at present.