HC Deb 06 July 1950 vol 477 cc56-7W
112. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens have entered Britain annually since the war; and what is the estimated present population of non-naturalised aliens who now live more or less permanently in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ede

The total number of aliens, including visitors, seamen, Ministry of Labour permit-holders and others, who entered the United Kingdom in each of the years 1946–49 is as follows: 1946, 311,932; 1947, 563,369; 1948, 657,661; 1949, 645,728.

During the same years the number of aliens who left the United Kingdom were: 1946, 291,227; 1947, 501,000; 1948, 593,532; 1949, 619,199.

It is estimated that on 31st May, 1950, the number of aliens over 16 years of age registered with the police as having been in the United Kingdom over two months was 425,578. Many of these are still here on a temporary basis and it is not possible to estimate what number can be regarded as a permanent addition to our population.

Mr. Bing

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of aliens at present resident in the United Kingdom, exclusive of citizens of Eire; and the respective numbers of each nationality involved.

Mr. Ede

It is estimated that on 31st May, 1950, the number of aliens over 16 years of age who had registered with the police as having been in the United Kingdom for over two months was 425,578.

The principal nationalities included in this figure were: Austrian, 10,132; Belgian, 5,620; Chinese, 9,657; Czech, 6,190; Danish, 5,026; Dutch, 9,099; Estonian, 5,682; French, 15,163; German, 46,697; Hungarian, 5,031; Italian, 21,104; Latvian, 13,784; Lithuanian, 6,954; Norwegian, 6,114; Polish, 145,756; Russian, 38,903; Swiss, 12,952; Yugoslav, 9,474; United States, 17,615.