HC Deb 22 June 1967 vol 748 cc1938-40
25. Mr. Channon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new instructions he has given immigration officers about their treatment of foreigners and Commonwealth citizens seeking entry to this country.

44. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what revised instructions to immigration officers have been issued in 1967; and whether he plans to issue any further instructions in the near future.

Mr. Ennals

I would refer the hon. Members to a reply my right hon. Friend gave on 27th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose). Apart from the change referred to in that reply, and instructions on minor matters, there have been no new instructions, nor are there any immediately in prospect, dealing with major changes of policy or practice. My right hon. Friend will look at the instructions again after he has received and considered the report of the Committee on Immigration Appeals.

Mr. Channon

Does not the hon. Member agree that in recent weeks and months there have been a number of very disturbing cases, particularly at London Airport? Does not he think that his right hon. Friend ought to look at the matter urgently so that visitors to this country can expect reasonable treatment, which they receive in the overwhelming majority of cases, and this small minority of cases be stopped?

Mr. Ennals

This is a matter which is constantly before my right hon. Friend and myself. It should be understood that in a number of cases Press reports have been grossly exaggerated and sometimes quite incorrect. As I said, my right hon. Friend recently changed certain instructions concerning medical examinations at London Airport where there had been a particular incident.

Mr. Goodhart

Does the Minister appreciate that immigration officers, at airports particularly, are already working at full stretch and if any further controls are put on their activities the whole system of checking immigrants may collapse altogether?

Mr. Ennals

I do not agree with the last part of the conclusion. This is one reason why we have been encouraging those coming to this country—I am particularly referring to Commonwealth citizens about whom there may be some doubt whether they are entitled to entry under the Act—to obtain entry certi- ficates before coming so as to prevent all the difficulties of questioning which inevitably occur at London Airport.

Mr. Chapman

Will my hon. Friend encourage the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination and other bodies who want to see, and are helping to provide the money for, a welfare officer at London Airport to help people who are in difficulties when they arrive here?

Mr. Ennals

This is precisely the sort of proposal which my right hon. Friend will have in mind when he considers the report from the Wilson Committee to which I have referred and which we expect quite shortly.

Mr. Buck

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is most unsatisfactory, because on 27th April his right hon. Friend assured me that he would look at this matter again and also said that it was not the custom to publish these instructions although in fact in 1966 we had a White Paper which did precisely that?

Mr. Ennals

It is true that in 1966 Cmnd. 3064 publicised the instructions. However, my right hon. Friend will consider whether there is a case for publishing other instructions. Since from time to time there are minor instructions, it would not be helpful for them all to be published.