§ 33. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in each of the last three years he has refused to grant visas to enter the United Kingdom to the foreign husbands of British citizens.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeImmigration statistics are not kept in a form that would enable me to give this information.
§ Mr. SwinglerAs these citizens fall into a special category, will not the Home
§ Mr. StokesThe Minister implies that I have not sent him the evidence. Will he take the trouble to read my last letter to him, to which, as far as I know, I have never had a reply?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe right hon. Gentleman's memory is not as long as it ought to be. I invited him to come and give evidence, as he seemed to know everything about it, and the obvious thing was that he should give evidence to the committee. The committee is still waiting for the right hon. Gentleman.
§ The following is the table:
§ Secretary make further inquiries? Does he not agree that especially sympathetic attention should be given to these cases where a British wife and her foreign husband wish to live in the United Kingdom? As it is obvious that he has turned down quite a number of such cases, will he not make a review in his Department to see how many are involved and give sympathetic consideration?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeIn the first place, I cannot accept the remark that we have turned down so many cases—quite the 553 contrary. The attitude of the Home Office is a very liberal one, and these people are treated with every possible consideration. I gave an answer to the case which the hon. Member has in mind, and I have nothing to add to it.