§ Mr. Prescottasked the Minister of Labour how many European volunteer workers have, to date, entered this country; what has been the total cost involved; of such number, how many are engaged in the textile industry; and how many European volunteer workers have returned to Europe.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe number of European volunteer workers brought to this country up to the end of October was 74,700, comprising 55,200 men and 19,500 women. Twelve thousand nine hundred workers, mostly women, were placed in the textile industry. Of the total recruited, 1,000 have returned to the Continent of Europe, mainly on compassionate grounds. The approximate cost to the Ministry of Labour and National Service of administering the schemes for recruitment of European volunteer workers up to the end of October is £2,750,000. This represents the cost of recruitment, transportation and maintenance and welfare of these workers until they are placed in employment, together with an estimate of the placing and transference costs which arise when workers are moved to employment. It also includes similar costs for about 3,000 dependants who have been brought to this country.