Oral Answers to Questions — Coal Industry. – in the House of Commons am ar 8 Gorffennaf 1925.
Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke
, Cardiff East
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the migration statistics before the War averaged some 200,000 a year and that at that time no financial assistance was given by the State; that since the War the average has fallen to 150,000, although during the greater part of the period between 1919 and 1925 substantial financial assistance has been given by the State; can he explain why the migration statistics should have gone down instead of going up, as was the case after the Boer War; and what steps the Government are taking to ensure a larger flow of migrants between this country and the Dominions?
Lieut-Colonel Leo Amery
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
I would refer my hon. Friend to the Annual Report of the Oversea Settlement Committee for 1924 (Cmd. 2383), in which this question is fully discussed. That report also indicates the action which is being taken by His Majesty's Government and the Dominion Governments in this matter.
Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke
, Cardiff East
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is extremely inconvenient at Question Time to be referred to a long report of this kind; and can he not give me some sort of summary of the statement, and not burke it-altogether?
Lieut-Colonel Leo Amery
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
The last thing I desire to do is to burke this very important matter, but a statement of the causes which have prevented a satisfactory flow of migration would necessarily mean a very long statement and, as the facts are succinctly contained in this document, I thought it would meet the hon. Gentleman's convenience.
Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke
, Cardiff East
I do not think it does.
Mr Henry Croft
, Bournemouth
Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there is any improvement in the flow of migration?
Lieut-Colonel Leo Amery
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
No, sir, I should not say that there is any very marked change.
Mr Ernest Thurtle
, Shoreditch
Is it not the case that the fact of men having fought for the country makes them less inclined to emigrate from the country?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
The hon. Member is putting his own opinion.
Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke
, Cardiff East
Will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to give all the Government assistance he can to the "big brother" movement in Australia?
Lieut-Colonel Leo Amery
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
Certainly I am most anxious to support any movement of that kind which will give our migrants a better chance on their arrival.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
