HC Deb 02 May 1967 vol 746 cc281-2
4. Mr. Longden

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Gov- ernment of Tanzania, regarding discrimination against British subjects of Arab and Asian descent.

The Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. George Thomas)

None, Sir. So far as we are aware there has been no discrimination in Tanzania on grounds of race against United Kingdom citizens of Arab and Asian descent.

Mr. Longden

Are the hon. Gentleman and the Government aware that many Arab and Indian citizens who were born in Tanzania and who, until recently, were British subjects are being expelled by the Government of that country and victimised in many worse ways? Can Her Majesty's Government not make some protest, or are they leaving it, as usual, to such freedom-loving democratic fellow members of the United Nations as Haiti and Mali to do so?

Mr. Thomas

It is true that, in January of this year, there was a check among non-Tanzanian citizens who were not in possession of valid residence permits. This led to a number of people being classified as prohibited immigrants. Whenever we seek to make representations to the Tanzanian Government, we do it through our Canadian friends.

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