HC Deb 04 April 1963 vol 675 cc611-3
16. Mr. N. Pannell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been for living on immoral earnings for the Metropolitan Police District since 1st July, 1962; how many of those convicted were immigrants from the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland, respectively; and how many such immigrants were immune from deportation through having been resident in the United Kingdom for five years or more.

Mr. Brooke

In the Metropolitan Police District between 1st July, 1962, and 16th March, 1963, 123 persons were convicted of living on immoral earnings, 52 came from Commonwealth countries and 15 from the Irish Republic. Of these 67, 51 were not liable under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act for deportation because they had been resident in the United Kingdom for at least five years.

Mr. Pannell

Do not the replies to these two Questions indicate quite clearly not only that Commonwealth citizens are particularly prone to these serious offences but that the majority of them escape the penalty of deportation on the ground of residence? Does not my right hon. Friend consider that there has been sufficient experience of the operation of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act to indicate this serious defect, and will he consider amending legislation to correct the position?

Mr. Brooke

I am not sure from what source my hon. Friend draws his inference that Commonwealth citizens are particularly prone to these offences because, as I have said, out of 123 persons convicted in the Metropolitan Police District for living on immoral earnings, 52 came from the Commonwealth. I cannot hold out hope to the hon. Member that at any rate in present circumstances we should amend the Commonwealth Immigrants Act in the direction he desires.

Mr. Fletcher

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that when Parliament discussed the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill it was felt by hon. Members on both sides of the House that it would be quite wrong to give the courts power to deport anyone who had been resident here for more than five years?

Mr. Brooke

I did not take part in those debates, as the hon. Gentleman did. I know that there is a feeling shared by numbers of people besides my hon. Friend that in the case of certain offences deportation powers ought to exist, even though the person has been in this country for a long time. However, my hon. Friend knows well, I think, the difficulties that there would be in the way of amending the law in that direction.

Mr. Pannell

In regard to the remarks of my right hon. Friend that Commonwealth immigrants are not particularly prone to these offences, the numbers given should include 15 Irish immigrants, which makes a total of 67 Commonwealth immigrants coming under the Act. That is more than half the total and is quite disproportionate. With regard to those being in possession of dangerous drugs, 272 out of 416 is more than 50 per cent. Surely this indicates action, and will my right hon. Friend again consider action in this regard?

Mr. Brooke

It is a very serious matter that there are these cases of convictions both for being in possession of dangerous drugs and living on immoral earnings, but I think that Parliament would have to consider the matter very carefully before legislating to the effect that somebody who had been in the United Kingdom for five years should, nevertheless, be liable to deportation.