§ Q3. Mr. John Fraserasked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to call a conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers to discuss migration within the Commonwealth.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 7th March to a supplementary question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath).—[Vol. 760, c. 645–6.]
§ Mr. FraserDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that in that supplementary answer he said that he was considering the matter, and will he now make a decision about it? Secondly, may I ask whether he regards the offer by the Government of Saskatchewan to accept more migrants to that part of the Commonwealth as a useful point for starting discussions on this sort of matter?
§ The Prime MinisterOn the second part of that question, this is an extremely useful and constructive proposal. On the first part of it, the agenda for the forth-coming Commonwealth Conference will have to be agreed by all the Commonwealth Prime Ministers concerned. I shall be very surprised if this does not form part, and a very important part, of our discussions.
§ Mr. John HallDoes the Prime Minister agree that the problem of migration within the Commonwealth is not one which we as a country can solve alone? Will he make absolutely certain that it is discussed at the Commonwealth Conference, and that some attempt is made to persuade other Commonwealth countries to help in solving this problem?
§ The Prime MinisterThe answer to the first part of the question is "Yes". As I have said, I am sure that this will be discussed at the Conference, subject to the agreement of my Commonwealth colleagues.
§ Mr. LiptonWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the solution of the migration problem cannot, as hitherto, be left to the limited resources of local authorities directly concerned, or to hon. Members in whose constituencies there are large immigrant populations?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend will be aware of the considerable help given increasingly over the past few years for local authorities to be able to cope with all the very serious problems of housing, education or other aspects of assimilation caused by the immigration problem.
§ Sir D. RentonWhen the right hon. Gentleman is discussing migration with other Commonwealth countries, will he remember to tell their representatives that the United Kingdom is more densely populated than any of those countries which send large numbers of immigrants here?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that that is well understood by a number of my Commonwealth colleagues, and in case there is any lack of that I shall consider sending them the illuminating booklet recently produced by the right hon. and learned Gentleman.