HC Deb 15 November 1962 vol 667 cc547-8
13. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that numbers of immigrants are occupying houses in the London area while London citizens are homeless, if he will exercise more stringent control over the number of immigrants admitted to this country until British people are adequately housed.

Mr. Brooke

Pressure on housing was one of the factors taken into account when the Government decided to seek powers to control the rate of immigration from the Commonwealth. There are also a number of other considerations which have a bearing on the exercise of these powers.

Sir C. Osborne

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that English people ought to have priority in housing in their own country?

Mr. Brooke

These matters were debated at length during the passage of the Commonwealth Immigrants Measure. I did not hold my present position at that time, but I have never thought that it was the decision of the Government that Commonwealth immigration should be stopped, but only that the rate of immigration should be controlled.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman resist all these suggestions which are put to him by the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) which are resented by all good-thinking and decent people in this country?

Mr. Brooke

I will do my utmost to maintain a balanced view on all these matters.

Mr. Dugdale

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason why large numbers of people in London, the Midlands and elsewhere are homeless is not the arrival of immigrants, but the fact that the Government are totally incapable of building an adequate number of houses at cheap rents?

Mr. Brooke

I do not agree. In any case, it is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

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