HL Deb 08 May 1973 vol 342 cc253-5
LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of Press reports that the Government of Kenya has given Asian residents notice to emigrate in the near future, and, in view of recent announcements that nonwhite immigration into this country will henceforth be very restricted, what they propose to do should such expelled residents seek entry into the United Kingdom.

THE MINISTER or STATE, HOMEOFFICE (VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government keep closely in touch with developments affecting our passport holders in Kenya. The Government's immigration policy makes provision for the continued admission of United Kingdom passport holders from Kenya and elsewhere, in a controlled and orderly manner, under the special voucher scheme.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, arising out of that Answer is it to be understood that in the case of Kenya there has been advanced by the taxpayer some £125 million since independence? Is it understood from the noble Viscount's reply that entry will be strictly limited. In the case of Uganda, in addition to the voucher scheme of, presumably, some 14,000, some 26,000 came in. Is it to be understood that there would be a strict restriction in the case of a demand of this character.

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, what my right honourable friend has said is that the number of vouchers to be issued in the future is to be of the same order of magnitude as in the past, and I do not think it is very sensible to try to forecast the precise numbers which will be available in any particular country. But, as my noble friend knows, there has been a substantial restriction over recent years and in view of that, and what my right honourable friend has said, I think I can agree with the tenor of what my noble friend is suggesting.

LORD AVEBURY

My Lords, has the noble Viscount observed from the figures published by the Home Office the other day that the number of vouchers awarded to Commonwealth citizens as a whole was very much lower than in the preceding year? In view of this decline in the rate of immigration of voucher-holders, and also in view of the difficulties faced by United Kingdom citizens in Kenya and Tanzania, does not the noble Viscount think that it is time, as I have suggested on numerous occasions to the Secretary of State, that we should consider an additional special allocation of vouchers for our citizens in East Africa.

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, we have, of course, just accepted a very large number of our citizens from East Africa in circumstances with which I think the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, has been greatly concerned, and rightly so. As I understand the situation, the Government have made no decision further than I have already stated, and although we keep in close touch with the Governments of the various countries concerned, I am not aware that we are planning to make any great increase in the allocation of vouchers, particularly in view of the process of assimilation of those from Uganda, which is still going on.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, is the noble Viscount able to confirm that the Government have given such notice to the Asian residents of that country.

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, I am aware of what was said, I think at the end of April, by the Kenyan Minister for Commerce and Industry, but I do not understand there to be any urgent risk of people there being expelled, or anything of that sort. However, we are in close touch with the Kenyan authorities on the whole matter.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, can the noble Viscount say whether it is the case that the Kenyan Government have co-operated in the quotas allowed under the voucher system.

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, yes; I think that is absolutely right. I think we should all be very grateful for it.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that this year, as last year, each voucher carries the privilege of 4 people possibly coming in so that whatever the number of vouchers granted annually—3,000 or 4,000—the number has to be multiplied by 4 as a possible inflow.

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, as a statistic, and according to the figures that I have seen, my noble friend is probably right about that.