asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the payment of a grant to any Dominion Government for any unemployed man willing to emigrate for whom they will guarantee to find work overseas?

The Empire Settlement Act, 1922, empowers His Majesty's Government to co-operate financially with any Dominion Government in agreed schemes of migration and settlement. Such schemes are already in operation in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Persons are only assisted under these schemes provided that they are likely to make suitable settlers and that employment is available for them. It would be undesirable that the Act should be regarded as a means of directly relieving abnormal unemployment in this country. Its object is to distribute our population to the best advantage of the Empire as a whole, and thus to promote its development, trade and security.

Is it not a fact that more applications from people in this country who wish to emigrate under this scheme have been received than the scheme actually provides for?

Yes, at the present moment there are actually more people who are anxious to go to the Dominions than we can arrange the finance and reception for overseas.

Are any new schemes for encouraging people to emigrate being considered at the present time?

Yes, there are some being considered at the present moment.

With regard to the existing scheme, is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that there are agencies in the Dominions trying to find opportunities for work for this particular class?

Yes, there are a good many organisations actively working in the Dominions to this end.

Could the Government not provide more money for these schemes?

The amount of the money is limited by the Vote of this House, but we did not spend either last year or the preceding year the amount that has been voted.