18. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that many of the West Indian colonies from which emigrants are allowed free entry into Great Britain impose restrictions on immigration into their territory from Great Britain and other British West Indian colonies; and whether any changes with regard to these restrictions are contemplated in the near future.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware that the West Indian territories impose restrictions on immigration. Freedom of movement between the various islands will be considered at the Inter-Governmental Conference of the Federal and Territorial 1577 Governments in Port of Spain which began on 2nd May.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the fact that there is restriction on movement between the islands, preventing people in one island from taking jobs in another, is one of the factors which causes many Jamaicans to come to this country? Is he aware that it removes the moral basis of demands which are made that freedom to come to this country should be retained in the future?
§ Mr. MacleodThere are restrictions, which vary from island to island and, in the Federation, impede the free flow of people who wish to travel, but clearly this is a matter which they themselves should consider, and they are meeting at the moment in the Inter-Governmental Conference