HC Deb 27 June 1963 vol 679 cc1637-8
16. Mr. P. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when he intends to wind up the Overseas Migration Board.

Mr. Tilney

It is not at present the intention of my right hon. Friend to wind up the Overseas Migration Board, although it has not had occasion to meet for some time.

Mr. Williams

Is my hon. Friend aware that some of us are delighted that it is not the present intention to wind up this Board? Will he understand that there can be two interpretations of the phrase "wind up" and that it might be worth while using this Board for positive purposes in Commonwealth Relations?

Mr. Tilney

Migration is going very well. Perhaps my hon. Friend is not aware that in the last year migration to Canada and New Zealand exceeded that of 1961, and that this year the applications for Australia are three times what they were last year.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that to say that this Board has not had occasion to meet for some time is extremely ambiguous? Is he aware that the position is that the Minister has decided that the Board should not meet but that the members of the Board—and I am one—would be only too glad to meet if the opportunity were offered, and is not the present position of putting it in cold storage very unsatisfactory?

Mr. Tilney

The Board met last July, and I understand that at that routine meeting all members of the Board agreed that such meetings with no substantive agenda should be discontinued.

Mr. Williams

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter upon the Adjournment.