HC Deb 15 February 1968 vol 758 cc1562-3
9. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional measures he is taking to prevent illegal entry of Pakistanis and others into Great Britain.

68. Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the First Schedule, Part 1, Section 1(2) of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, so as to enable illegal immigrants to be deported even if they have not been examined within 24 hours of landing.

Mr. Callaghan

Yes Sir, there is a case for some amendment of the law, to deal with clandestine immigration, when further immigration legislation is introduced. The primary safeguard is effective and vigilant co-operation between the police and other authorities on both sides of the Channel.

Sir G. Nabarro

I thank the Home Secretary for that excellent Answer. Will he assure the House that he will deal in the amending legislation with the fault in the originating Act which prohibited the deportation of any person clandestinely entering the United Kingdom after 24 hours' sojourn here?

Mr. Callaghan

Yes, that will be the purpose of the legislation when it is introduced.

Mr. Whitaker

Can my right hon. Friend give any details of the racketeers who are misleading people about entering the United Kingdom? Does he agree that we should not lose sight of the misery caused to the victims of those racketeers?

Mr. Callaghan

I agree with my hon. Friend. The police are making a detailed examination of this traffic with the French and Belgian authorities and are receiving great help from them.

Sir R. Russell

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it will be before the legislation comes into force?

Mr. Callaghan

I could not give an answer to that question this afternoon.

Mr. Sandys

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the legislation will also deal with the problem of the influx of Asians from East Africa?

Mr. Callaghan

The right hon. Gentleman is jumping the gun on Question No. 31.