asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the number of permits issued during July and August to men desiring to travel to Great Britain for the purpose of obtaining employment.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the number of permits issued authorising people to travel to take up employment in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland in each of the months January to August inclusive.

I propose to take Nos. 1 and 2 together. The following figures show the number of permits issued in each of the months May to August inclusive to male applicants travelling to Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who stated that the purpose of their journey was to take up employment:—

Comparable figures for the months prior to May are not immediately available, but they are expected to be ready shortly. The figures I have given relate both to Great Britain and Northern Ireland and cover male applicants travelling to take up all forms of employment, including harvesting and other employment of a seasonal character.

Self-sufficiency for ever.