Commonwealth Immigrants

HC Deb 28 January 1963 vol 670 cc577-8

47. Mr. N. Pannell

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of vouchers he has issued to Commonwealth immigrants under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act; how many of these were for persons without special skills or jobs to go to; and how many of the persons to whom vouchers have been issued have entered the country.

Mr. Hare

27,384 vouchers had been issued up to 18th January, 1963, of which 18,905 were for persons without special skills or jobs to go to. Just under 6,000 Commonwealth citizens to whom vouchers have been issued have so far entered the country.

Mr. Pannell

Can my right hon. Friend explain the great disparity between the number of vouchers issued and the number who have entered the country? Are these vouchers issued for a limited period, and, if not, is there not a danger of there being a sudden influx of over 50,000 immigrants at any moment, leading to a very grave unemployment situation?

Mr. Hare

I think that my hon. Friend will recollect that we discussed the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill some time ago and that it was made clear that these vouchers are valid for six months only.

Mr. Prentice

Is there not a clear relationship between the falling number of immigrants from the Commonwealth coming in and the rising unemployment in Britain? Does this not bear out the points to which we drew attention when we debated that Bill?

Mr. Hare

I do not think we should wish to debate the Commonwealth Immigrants Act now. Many of us were concerned at the time we discussed this matter and I do not think there would be much point in my now answering that observation.

48. Mr. N. Pannell

asked the Minister of Labour how many Commonwealth immigrants were unemployed at the January, 1963, count.

Mr. Hare

36,657 on 14th January, 1963.

Mr. Pannell

Since the figure has increased in recent months, I beg my right hon. Friend to be more circumspect in issuing these vouchers to immigrants while the high unemployment figures persists.

Mr. Hare

We are taking great care in this matter. The issue of vouchers is controlled and we are keeping the position under constant review. I am certainly not prepared to stop the issue of these vouchers altogether.