HC Deb 25 April 1967 vol 745 cc1317-8
30. Mr. Bidwell

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the problem of the London Boroughs, and in particular the Borough of Ealing, in dealing with concentration of immigrant settlements; and if he will give further assistance to such local authorities.

Mr. MacColl

I am well aware of this problem, on which my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary received a deputation from the local Members and council on 26th January. In the general review of legislation to which he referred in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) and my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick), the special problems arising from concentrations of immigrant settlements will be borne in mind.

Mr. Bidwell

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Would he undertake to look carefully and sympathetically at any early representations which the London Borough of Ealing may make to him about this problem, particularly as it affects the Southall part of this London borough?

Mr. MacColl

Yes, Sir, although I am bound to remind my hon. Friend that the Joint Parliamentary Secretary has had very long and detailed discussions with the Ealing Council about this matter.

Sir C. Osborne

In view of the appalling conditions under which many of the immigrants are having to live in certain areas, is it not criminal madness to allow further immigrants to come into this country until this problem has been solved?

Mr. MacColl

Fortunately this is not a matter for my right hon. Friend, in that I do not have to think of an answer which would be polite enough to get through the House.

Mr. Molloy

May I inform my hon. Friend that he can rest assured that we have tabled this Question in an effort to help solve what is a difficult problem and that we are not in any way affected by the detestable racialism of which we have just heard? [Interruption.] Would he agree that, in so far as the London Borough of Ealing has faced this problem, it has made splendid efforts—

Sir G. Nabarro

On a point of order. Is it not a fact that the words used by the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy), "contemptible racialism"—

Mr. Molloy

I said "detestable".

Sir G. Nabarro

—"detestable racialism" impute dishonourable motives to my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) and that they should, therefore, be withdrawn?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must leave the Chair to decide what is in order. Mr. Molloy.

Mr. Molloy

Would my hon. Friend agree that all the officers and members of the staff of the Ealing Borough Council have done as much as possible to try to get these people, who are members of our British Commonwealth, to be assimilated with the people of these islands—which, I think, is a fine and proper thing to do? Would he further—

Mr. Speaker

Order. There are many Questions on the Order Paper.

Mr. Molloy

Would my hon. Friend seek to—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We must get on.

Sir C. Osborne

On a point of order. Have I no means of protecting my good name—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—against such unworthy and ignorant slurs, and since I was asking for protection for the immigrants who are already in this country, is there no means by which that dastardly kind of reflection can be stopped?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman is making a political defence to what I think was a political attack. Mr. Tilney, next Question.