§ 27. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give the number of migrants to Australia from the United Kingdom during the past 12 months to the latest convenient date; and how far the number of prospective oversea settlers awaiting passage is still in excess of shipping availability.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerDuring the 12 months which ended on 30th September, 1949, a total of 49,778 British men, women and children went by sea from the United Kingdom to settle in Australia. There is at present no appreciable delay in the departure of migrants who are accepted under the Government schemes of assisted migration. I understand that other migrants who now register with the British shipping lines to Australia will probably be offered passages within the next six months or so.