HC Deb 08 February 1968 vol 758 cc650-2
Q7. Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Prime Minister what are the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for the Home Department in Scotland.

Mr. George Brown

I have been asked to reply.

To detail these would involve me in a long reply. I will therefore, with your permission, Sir, circulate this in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Earl of Dalkeith

Can the Foreign Secretary say who is responsible for checking the number of overseas immigrants coming to Scotland? I understand that it is about 23,000. Can he also say whether, for the purposes of the Race Relations Act in Scotland, the English count as a race?

Mr. Brown

Not being basically an Englishman myself, I shall not get involved in the latter question. I thought of all the possible supplementary question which the noble Lord might ask, but I did not take account of the one he did ask.

Mr. Rankin

For our immediate satisfaction, could not my right hon. Friend try to summarise the Answer?

Mr. Brown

I can summarise it very easily—I have circulated it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mrs. Ewing

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to transfer any of these responsibilities to the Secretary of State for Scotland forthwith?

Mr. Brown

No. I thought that the noble Lord might ask that question, but he did not do so.

The following is the information: The main functions performed in Scotland by the Secretary of State for the Home Department are as follows: Immigration and Nationality The administration of the British Nationality Acts 1948 to 1965, the Aliens Order, and the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, including the admission and control after entry of aliens and Commonwealth citizens; and the grant of naturalisation to aliens and the registration of Commonwealth citizens. Race Relations The administration of the Race Relations Act 1965. Civil Defence Responsibility for the Warning and Monitoring organisation, including the Royal Observer Corps, but excluding arrangements for disseminating public warnings from control points in Scotland; the provision of central civil defence training facilities; certain responsibilities relating to T. and A.V.R. III. Dangerous Substances The administration of the Explosives Act 1875 and the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928, and the making of statutory orders under the Acts. Drugs and Poisons The administration of the Dangerous Drugs Acts 1965 and 1967, and the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act 1964. The control of the distribution of narcotic and amphetamine drugs; the issue of licences for the import and export of narcotic drugs and the import of amphetamines; control by licence and authorisation of the manufacturers' supply and possession of these drugs. The administration of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1933. The prescription of a list of poisons controlled and the making of rules governing the sale, supply, labelling and storage of poisons. Cruelty to Animals The administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 in respect of experiments on living animals. Consumer Protection Act, 1961 By agreement with the Secretary of State for Scotland in each case, the making of regulations relating to the safety of consumer goods.