§ 12. Sir D. Rentonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the Government have compared the economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration on the present scale; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlbuHer Majesty's Government are supporting a general study of the economic implications of immigration, but until this work is completed and more information is available, my right hon. Friend cannot make a statement.
§ Sir D. RentonWould the hon. Gentleman look at the recent article in the July issue of the Lloyd's Bank Review, 1858 in which it is suggested that immigrants may be disadvantageous to the balance of payments rather than otherwise?
§ Mr. AlbuI have done so but, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman will know, the authors of the article made very considerable qualifications to their conclusions. In any case, economic considerations are not the only ones that we have to bear in mind when we are considering immigration policy.
§ Mr. FreesonAlso on the question of economic considerations, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are thousands of jobs which are not being filled as a result of the present ceiling quota upon Commonwealth immigrants?
§ Mr. HoggWhile most of us will be interested to know of this pending study, can the hon. Gentleman tell us when it is likely to be completed and whether, when completed, it is likely to be published?
§ Mr. AlbuI think that it will be published. It is not pending; it is taking place now and is being carried out at the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.