§ 40. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreigners were permitted entry into this country for the admitted reason of taking part in the demonstration in Trafalgar Square and Grosvenor Square on Sunday, 17th March; and how many of them have now been deported.
§ 46. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportations have taken place as a result of proceedings arising out of the pro-Vietcong demonstrations in Trafalgar Square and Grosvenor Square on 17th March.
§ 52. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who took part in the demonstrations in Grosvenor Square on 17th March came from abroad; where they came from; and whether any deportations have taken place or are under consideration.
§ Mr. CallaghanNo separate record has been kept of any passengers who may on arrival have declared to an immigration officer their intention of taking part in this demonstration. None of those who did take part have been deported, but some cases are still before the courts and further proceedings may be instituted.
§ Mr. DigbyDespite our tradition of tolerance, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is resentment against foreigners coming here and creating a cockpit for demonstrations?
§ Mr. CallaghanYes, Sir. I think that that is a fair statement of the position. I am bound to say that it is very difficult to check what foreign students propose to do when they come here. For example, a large number of them came on an architectural tour, but I am not sure what sort of architecture they were proposing to study.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonCan the right hon. Gentleman say about how many persons who are liable to deportation on conviction under the aliens or Commonwealth immigrants legislation have been prosecuted and convicted?
§ Mr. CallaghanNo, Sir. I cannot say how many have yet been prosecuted because the cases are still going on. In fact, the number of people who are known to have arrived for the purpose of this demonstration is surprisingly small, probably not much more than 100.
Mr. Gresham CookeIf bands of foreigners come here to join in these events, which should be British events only—[Interruption.]—and arm themselves with sticks and other weapons and are violent, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that they should not object to the use of Continental methods such as having the hoses turned on them?
§ Mr. CallaghanI would be reluctant to lower the tariff barriers to allow Continental methods to be introduced in this sphere. I am certain that we should—and I do not want to make too much of one demonstration of this sort, major, serious and bad though it was—for the time being continue to rely on our traditional methods.