HC Deb 13 April 1961 vol 638 cc468-70
14. Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a Turkish Cypriot and his wife who recently came to this country have been gaoled for drug offences and that their four children are being cared for out of public funds; whether he is aware of public concern about this type of immigration; and what progress he is making in his study of the present system of permitting free entry to all Commonwealth citizens.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Renton)

My right hon. Friend is aware of this case. As regards the general issues raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, I would refer him to the statement I made in reply to the debate on 17th February.

Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that there is increasing resentment over this type of immigrant, who come over to this country and live off the Welfare State, occupy the homes our people so badly need, and celebrate the occasion by occupying our gaols as well? Can he tell me how much it costs permanently to keep the family in question? Will they all be deported as soon as the parents come out of prison?

Mr. Renton

There is no evidence that Commonwealth immigrants engage in criminal activities to a greater degree than other sections of the community. I cannot without notice say how much it is costing to keep the parents in prison or the four children in the care of the London County Council, but I take note of what my hon. and gallant Friend says.

Mr. Paget

I entirely accept what the hon. and learned Gentleman says as to the conduct of Commonwealth immigrants being on the whole good, but does not this demonstrate that legislation is required to deal with the whole question of aliens and Commonwealth visitors and the whole problem of immigration?

Mr. Renton

That is a very much wider Question.

24. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as it is estimated that the number of immigrants will reach over 50,000 this year and as many Commonwealth countries now have immigration controls, whether he can yet state the decision of Her Majesty's Government regarding control of immigration into this country.

Mr. Renton

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 30th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Kirkdale (Mr. N. Pannell).

Mr. Gresham Cooke

While my hon. and learned Friend is considering the matter, will he bear in mind that a number of self-governing countries in the Commonwealth now have immigration control regulations, including work permits? Is he further aware that I have been told by a firm in the East End of London that it receives two or three applications a week from immigrants who, when they turn up, have only the one word of English—"Job"? Is it not time that we introduced some work permit control for these people?

Mr. Renton

I take note of what my hon. Friend says.

Sir Richard Pilkington

Is not this matter getting more and more difficult the longer it is left?

Mr. M. Foot

Would the hon. and learned Gentleman take into account that this matter was very fully debated in the House of Commons, and that the proposals then made by hon. Members opposite for restricting immigration were laughed out of court—[HON. MEMBERS: "By whom?"]—by the House of Commons. Would it not be much better for the Home Office to take account of that debate rather than the efforts of some hon. Members opposite to raise these matters by Questions afterwards?

Mr. Renton

On that occasion, both the Motion and the Amendment were withdrawn.