§ 13. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to encourage local education authorities and schools not to treat school pupils born of immigrants in Great Britain as immigrants themselves.
§ Mr. Denis HowellMy right hon. Friend does not believe that further special steps on his part are needed at present. The advice given to local education authorities in his circular is based solely upon educational considerations, and some of it is relevant to the pupils mentioned in the Question.
§ Mr. WinnickWould my hon. Friend not agree that it is somewhat unfortunate for children born in this country of immigrant parents to be themselves treated as immigrants? Would he not agree that there is no justification for such a step and, in order to discourage this practice, would he not agree that a fresh circular should go out from the Ministry?
§ Mr. HowellAs I have stated, we are governed entirely by educational considerations, and it is a fact that many children of immigrants who are born in this country still have considerable language difficulties. In those circumstances, it is those educational problems which have to be dealt with specially.
§ Mr. WinnickBut they are not immigrants.