§ 42. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making so that in future his Department will have a full record of the numbers and types of people migrating in and out of the United Kingdom.
§ the negotiations which are now taking place with the police force and give an undertaking that when an award is given he will not follow his right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health and veto the decision?
Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. I cannot review any such position without knowing exactly what has happened, and I do not wish to interfere in any way at this stage. I would remind the hon. Member that the strength of the force generally has been steadily rising, and that is a sign, I think, of adequate contentment, apart from the normal negotiations in the police force as a whole.
§ Mr. GaitskellWould not the Home Secretary agree that it will be most unsatisfactory if he finds himself in the position of the Minister of Health? Can he give us an assurance that the management or official side of the Council will act in accordance with the wishes of the Government on this occasion so that the same position does not arise?
Mr. ButlerI think it is unwise to prejudge any consideration of any wage claim before it is put before the Minister. While I will pay attention to what the right hon. Gentleman has said, I do not think that he ought to prejudge this case at this stage.
§ Following is the information:
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerAt present there are admitted deficiencies in the available statistics of migration to and from the United Kingdom. The various Government Departments interested are making a special review of the information required for official purposes about migration and the machinery for obtaining it, and I am not in a position to make 1139 any further statement in the matter at the moment.
§ Captain PilkingtonDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the present situation is very unsatisfactory? Does he think that he will be able to make a statement about it within, say, the next six months?
§ Mr. ButlerPerhaps I could let my hon. and gallant Friend know when I am in a position to make a statement, in view of the information which I am collecting.