Commonwealth Migration

HC Deb 23 February 1961 vol 635 cc761-2

4. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether his attention has been drawn to the criticism made by the Australian Government's planning council of British policy in not more actively assisting Commonwealth migration; and what steps he intends to take in this matter.

Mr. Braine

Yes, Sir. The criticism was contained in a paper prepared by the Australian Immigration Planning Council for discussion at the Twelfth Australian Citizenship Convention which was held last month in Canberra.

My right hon. Friend does not think that the criticism is justified. In fact, the Chairman of the Australian Immigration Planning Council is since reported to have announced that British migration to Australia is running at its highest level for some years.

Mr. Fisher

Will my hon. Friend acknowledge that, whereas successive Ministers of the Commonwealth Relations Office have paid a great deal of lip-service to the idea of migration to the Commonwealth, in fact they have done very little about it? When the Commonwealth Settlement Act comes up for renewal next year, would my hon. Friend consider amendments designed to give greater assistance to British migrants to Australia?

Mr. Braine

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestion. Any further steps we might take in this connection would depend upon formal proposals that we may receive from Commonwealth countries. I must emphasise that migration depends upon the voluntary decisions of individuals, and an increased flow of migrants from this country cannot be brought about by greater waving of the Government's wands.

Mr. Callaghan

Is this increasing British migration from this country, or is it by disillusioned citizens in South Africa and Central Africa, where we understand that there is a great deal of emigration at present? If so, is not the statement of the Joint Under-Secretary of State rather misleading?

Mr. Braine

No, Sir. I have not intentionally tried to mislead the House. I was choosing my words very carefully. Migration from the United Kingdom in 1958 was 44,000, in 1959 it was over 43,000, and last year it was 44,000, which compares pretty favourably with the annual rate for all the years since the end of the war.