HC Deb 23 October 1961 vol 646 cc565-7
Mr. Stonehouse

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will grant political asylum to Fernando Rosa, a refugee from Mozambique, now held in Winchester Prison.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. David Renton)

This case is at present being investigated. My right hon. Friend will reach a decision as soon as possible and communicate it to the hon. Member. In the meantime he will, of course, be glad to consider any representations the hon. Member may care to make to him.

Mr. Stonehouse

Can the Minister say why this man was transferred to prison when a fellow passenger was prepared to give him hospitality in this country? Is the Minister aware that if this man is returned to the jurisdiction of Dr. Salazar he will be subject to the most brutal treatment and his life may be in danger? Will the Minister not only communicate with me, but communicate to the House the decision which is made and undertake that this man will not be returned to the Portuguese authorities until the House has been advised and has had an opportunity to consider the matter?

Mr. Renton

If this man were to be compelled to leave this country he would be sent back on a ship belonging to the shipping company which brought him here, and the company would send him back to Cape Town from whence he came and where, incidentally, he has leave to remain until 3rd December. His being kept in custody is due to the fact that under the Aliens Order he cannot be sent away by ship if he has once been given leave to land, and it is, therefore, necessary to keep him in custody until that question has been decided.

As to the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend will, of course, bear in mind what the hon. Member says.

Mr. Stonehouse

May we have an assurance that no action will be taken to return this man to Cape Town or anywhere else until this House has been advised?

Mr. Renton

Yes, Sir. I willingly give that assurance.

Mr. C. Pannell

In his representations to his right hon. Friend will the Minister call his attention to the fact that there has been marked within the House the reluctance with which he appears to be acting in this case compared with the assiduity with which he always gets down to the job when the refugee comes from Eastern Europe? On those occasions we have noticed, on the television almost within the hour, that the Minister rushes in to guard a refugee. Personally, I applaud that, but will he bear in mind in this matter that good and evil are not divisible between East and West?

Mr. Renton

We need to bear in mind that in this case the man at first said that he wanted to visit this country for nine months, but that he had no return ticket and had only £37 on him. He was, therefore, refused leave to land, on what he said. It was not until he had been refused leave that he claimed political asylum. We are investigating the case.

Mr. Brockway

The Minister said that this man would be returned to Cape Town. Will he consider two points? First, Cape Town would not be a much more congenial place for a refugee than Portugal. Secondly, does he recollect that in an earlier case which I raised in the House it was agreed that a refugee would have the right not to be returned to the point from which he came, but would be given the opportunity to go to another country? If that situation is reached in this case, will that principle still apply?

Mr. Renton

Yes. Of course, the hon. Member also recollects that there must be another country which is willing to receive him.