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Ex-Service Men (Overseas Settlement)

Volume 155: debated on Tuesday 20 June 1922

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15.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities for settlement he can now afford those officers now being retrenched from the Navy and Army who are desirous of settling in the Colonies; can they be given free or assisted passages for themselves and families; and, if so, can such assistance be given at once?

Schemes for assisted passages and for affording help in other directions, under the provisions of the Empire Settlement Act, are under discussion with various Overseas Governments, and I hope that satisfactory arrangements regarding passages and otherwise will soon be arrived at with certain of those Governments.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman, in his capacity as Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, considering the point of view of naval officers who have been retrenched?

33.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what steps have been taken in Scotland to publish and supply all necessary information regarding the various schemes for overseas settlement with financial assistance that have been devised and agreed to by the British, the Dominion and Crown Colonies Governments; and whether, seeing that in view of the need of certain skilled tradesmen in some of the Dominions the present schemes provide a most favourable opportunity for married men with their families, as also single men and women, to establish themselves in the Overseas Dominions, special arrangements could be made to assist the emigration officials of the Dominions to provide the information through the employment exchanges and also through the agency of parish councils?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Full information regarding the Government scheme for granting free passages to ex-service men has been made available in Scotland, as in other parts of the Empire, through the handbooks of the Overseas Settlement Committee, local employment committees and exchanges, ex-service organisations, etc. No schemes under the Empire Settlement Act have yet been agreed to with any Dominion Government, but full use will be made of employment exchanges and all other suitable agencies to ensure publicity for all such schemes. The Oversea Employ- ment Branch of the Ministry of Labour possesses the requisite machinery for advertising through employment exchanges or otherwise any opportunities for skilled workmen overseas, which are brought to their notice by Dominion or Colonial Governments.