HC Deb 11 March 1968 vol 760 cc974-5
53. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Labour how many work permits have been issued to Asiatic immigrants from Kenya for employment in the Orkneys, Inverness, Roxburgh, Peebles and Selkirk, Hamilton and North Devon, respectively.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. E. Fernyhough): This information is not available.

Mr. Hamilton

Does not that Answer really mean "None at all"? What steps is my hon. Friend taking to encourage immigrants to go to these areas, since it is quite clear that the hon. Members concerned want them and that it would be a very considerable benefit to urban areas such as London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the rest, if this could be done?

Mr. Fernyhough

Vouchers were issued to 393 persons from Kenya between 1962 and 1968. The hon. Members opposite to whom my hon. Friend referred must be the custodians of their own consciences.

Mr. Lubbock

Is it not obvious that until the obnoxious and loathsome Commonwealth Immigrants Act was passed last week, no Kenya Asians holding British passports would have required work permits to come to any constituency, including Fife, West? Would not the Parliamentary Secretary confirm that it is contrary to the practice and custom of the House for hon. Members to put down Questions relating to their colleagues' constituencies; and that two can play at that game?

Mr. Fernyhough

I can confirm what my hon. Friend said about the freedom of Asians holding British citizens' passports to come here. If the hon. Gentleman has any argument with my right hon. Friend he should settle it either across these benches or outside.

Mr. Heffer

Is my hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members, particularly those from Liverpool, feel it regrettable that my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) did not put down a Question appertaining to immigration in Liverpool? Is my hon. Friend further aware that we have had immigrants coming into Liverpool for at least two or three hundred years from all parts of the world—white faced, black faced and brown faced—and that we have had very little difficulty in integrating those immigrants into our community?

Mr. Fernyhough

I accept that in Liverpool they have assimilated many thousands of immigrants, and I hope that those who are faced with a similar problem today will try to do in the future what Liverpool has done in the past.