HC Deb 11 July 1968 vol 768 cc725-6
27. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to make an announcement of the measures to be taken by the Government in respect of help to local authorities with large immigration population.

Mr. Callaghan

The study is continuing and I shall make a statement at the earliest time possible.

Mrs. Short

I appreciate that constituencies like mine have had far more help from this Government with the immigration problem than they had from their Conservative predecessors, but would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Prime Minister's speech at Birmingham held out considerable hope that we would get additional help? Would my right hon. Friend make a statement as soon as possible?

Mr. Callaghan

The intervening weeks since my right hon. Friend made his speech have been spent in obtaining a great deal of information. Obviously the programme will cost us money and it has to be fitted into the public expenditure programmes. It is that aspect with which I am concerned. I certainly hope to make a statement before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

Mr. Montgomery

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the help given to towns like Wolverhampton is hopelessly inadequate? Cannot he speed up the matter and, in the meantime, help to try to ease this problem?

Mr. Callaghan

I would not accept that criticism. As my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short) said, there has been a great increase in the amount of assistance given. The only question left for us— Interruption.]

Mrs. Short

Look after your own.

Mr. Callaghan

Perhaps my hon. Friend would like to come to the Dispatch Box and answer the question. I know that there are 620 Members who could answer it better than myself, but for the moment I have to do it. The only question now is how we can match the additional financial resources available to the needs.