asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can now state what steps he is taking to ensure that the distressed British migrants who went to Australia under a scheme for which Australian Governments and His Majesty's Government were jointly responsible shall be compensated for the losses and sufferings endured by them?

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the scheme of migrant land settlement in Victoria. As my right hon. Friend informed the House on the 1st June, he is awaiting the decision of the Victorian Government who are considering the subject carefully. As he also informed the House on the same occasion he is unable to accept the hon. Member's suggestion as to the responsibility of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in this matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is the first time the right hon. Gentleman has specifically denied the share of responsibility of this Government, and does he now state that the British Government had no responsibility for the immigration of these migrants in Victoria?

Under the scheme itself, it was made quite clear that the responsibility for satisfactory settlement rested entirely with the local government.

Then do I understand that the Dominions Office were prepared to spend a very large sum of money without having any control as to how that money was spent, on looking after the settlers?

I cannot add anything to the facts which I have already stated.

Is it not a fact that the scheme under which these migrants went out was definitely approved by this Government?

Were not they responsible for the statements made?

A part of the scheme, laid down quite clearly, was that the responsibility for satisfactory settlement—which is what the trouble is about—was that of the local Government.