HC Deb 16 May 1968 vol 764 cc1379-80
12. Mr. Dickens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Masashi Nii, of Hiroshima, Japan, was subjected to personal abuse by immigration officers on his arrival in Dover from Ostend on 28th March.

Mr. Ennals

My inquiries in no way confirm my hon. Friend's allegation.

Mr. Dickens

Is my hon. Friend aware that Mr. Nii, who is a pacifist and an atomic bomb survivor from Hiroshima, was coming here to attend a non-violent annual demonstration by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament? Is my hon. Friend further aware that since that fact was known to the immigration officers at Dover they adopted an attitude of gross personal abuse towards Mr. Nii? Will my hon. Friend take steps to ensure that immigration officers at all points of arrival are told forthwith that their private personal views must in no way be allowed to interfere with the discharge of their duties?

Mr. Ennals

My hon. Friend's allegations are quite unfounded—

Mr. Dickens

They are not.

Mr. Ennals

Mr. Nii arrived in the very early hours of the morning. He said that he wished to say here for three months. He had on him only a very limited amount of funds and it was necessary to make inquiries. He was admitted for a month—

Mr. Dickens

There was personal abuse.

Mr. Ennals

May I explain to my hon. Friend? After the few hours in which Mr. Nii had slept while waiting for a decision to be taken, as it was in the reasonably early hours, he expressed his appreciation to the immigration officers for the courtesy which had been shown to him.

Mr. Carlisle

Is it not unfortunate that unfounded remarks of this kind—

Mr. Dickens

They are not unfounded.

Mr. Carlisle

—should be made by hon. Members, since they can do nothing but harm to the general position of the immigration authorities?

Mr. Ennals

I naturally regret any allegations made against civil servants who are trying to do what is often a difficult job, and I am satisfied that, in the circumstances of this case, there was no reason for these allegations.

Mr. Dickens

On a point of order. In view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I give notice now that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment as soon as I can.