§ 5. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why he will not seek the co-operation of all Commonwealth Governments for the assisted return to their native lands of all immigrants in Great Britain who desire such a return; and how many he estimates would return if suitable financial arrangements were made.
§ Mr. WhitlockIt is for individual Commonwealth countries to decide whether to repatriate their citizens in this country who wish to go home. I have no means of estimating how many would wish to take advantage of such an arrangement.
§ Sir C. OsborneIs not the Undersecretary aware that the vast majority of the people of this country want to see further immigration stopped and all immigrants who wish to do so encouraged to go home? Is it not the duty of a democratic Government to rule according to the wish of the people?
§ Mr. WhitlockI am aware that it is the wish of the hon. Gentleman to have 1280 all immigration stopped, but I am not sure that it is the wish of the majority of people in this country.
§ Mr. HefferDoes not my hon. Friend agree that there is no evidence to suggest that the overwhelming majority of people in this country wish immigration to stop? Does he not agree with me that the important thing for us to do is to go ahead with getting racial harmony and integration in Britain, rather than having these sorts of questions, which raise a whole hornet's nest and which are totally inimical to the attainment of racial equality?
§ Mr. WhitlockI agree with my hon. Friend. We have control over the entry of Commonwealth citizens in a manner which is designed to ensure that we shall not outrun our capacity to absorb these people within our community and to ensure that, within the community, they enjoy the rights which they should have as men and women.
§ 6. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why he will not ask all Commonwealth Governments to reduce the flow of immigrants into Great Britain, in order to prevent a demand for their total exclusion until such time as the social problems created by those already here have been solved.
§ Mr. WhitlockHer Majesty's Government already have powers under the Commonwealth Immigrants Acts to control the entry of Commonwealth citizens.
§ Sir C. OsborneSince the Minister doubted the statement I made in my supplementary on the previous Question, may I ask him whether he and his Government will hold a by-election to see what the people feel about it? The Government will soon get to know the answer then.
§ Mr. WhitlockThat is a ridiculous suggestion.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsIs my hon. Friend aware that the majority of immigrants are from Australian, Canadian and European sources? Will he inquire of the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) whether it is these immigrants that he is anxious to return?
§ Mr. WhitlockI am not responsible for asking questions of the hon. Gentleman.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyIs the Undersecretary aware that most reasonable people want to see a fair deal given to those immigrants who are already here and to consolidate their position, and that what the people are concerned about is the tremendous number of dependants who will come in in the years ahead? They must be limited if those already here are to get a square deal.
§ Mr. WhitlockI would not wish to control the entry of immigrants into this country in the inhuman way which the hon. Gentleman seems to envisage.