HC Deb 23 February 1956 vol 549 cc560-2
40. Mr. W. Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi students in the United Kingdom are awaiting renewal of their permits to remain in Britain; and why some of them who made application for renewal some months ago have not yet been informed of his decision.

Major Lloyd-George

Separate statistics about students are not kept and I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question could not be obtained without a great deal of investigation, but I shall be glad to let the hon. Member know the position of any particular case if he will give me details.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the Home Secretary aware that since he expelled three of these students from Britain a month ago, without bringing any charges against them, considerable apprehension has been expressed by many of the hundreds of Iraqi students still remaining in this country, who tell me that they applied for the renewal of permits as long ago as last summer but have not yet had a reply? To my knowledge, at least a dozen of them are involved. Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman at least give the assurance that if they comply with the usual conditions laid down for foreign students, to which his hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary referred in the Adjournment debate a week or two ago, no obstacle will be put in the way of their remaining here?

Major Lloyd-George

I can certainly give the assurance that if, as the hon. Member himself said, these students continue their studies and behave themselves in this country, there will be no obstacle whatever. We are anxious that these students should come here; they have their permits renewed from year to year. I am happy to give the assurance that as long as they continue with their studies and do nothing which is contrary to the interests of this country, they need not worry at all.

Mr. W. R. Williams

In what way did the deported Iraqi students misbehave themselves in this country?

Major Lloyd-George

My hon. Friend who replied to the Adjournment debate said that he could not go any further than he stated at the time.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not true that these Iraqi students were expelled not because they had misbehaved themselves in the United Kingdom or engaged in subversive activities, but because the Iraqi Government asked for their deportation?

Major Lloyd-George

I am sorry to have to contradict the right hon. Gentleman on that. Two of the three Iraqi students whom we asked to leave this country—for reasons which, I am perfectly satisfied, were good ones—did not have their bursaries withdrawn, as some of their fellow countrymen did last year. Therefore, it had nothing whatever to do with the Iraqi Government. I acted, as I always do, in the interest of this country and of no other.

Mr. J. Griffiths

In view of the fact that for many years many students have come to this country and we have welcomed them, does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not realise that this action will cause a good deal of dismay and do a good deal of harm to this country in the countries from which students come here?

Major Lloyd-George

The right hon. Gentleman ought to keep a sense of proportion. I have not the exact figures, because they are not kept, but there are at the moment probably 1,000 Iraqis registered in this country, of whom at least 500 to 600 are students. Three were asked to go. I do not know why that should create misapprehension amongst all the people who come here. They know perfectly well, by the number of students who come here, from all parts of the world, that we are glad to welcome them here for that purpose.