HC Deb 23 May 1968 vol 765 cc857-8
29. Mr. John Hall

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the report of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research on the economic effects of immigration will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Williams

The study is not yet complete and publication will not be possible until sometime next year. An article on one aspect of the study was published in the Institute's Review for August, 1967.

Mr. Hall

Is the Minister aware that I was told by the previous Chancellor of the Exchequer in March, 1967, that the report would be available within 12 months? We are now told that it will be more than two years before it is available. Does the Minister agree that if the intention is to put this problem of immigration in proper prospective it is essential that the economic and social effects of continuing immigration should be known? Will he speed up the report?

Mr. Williams

It is precisely for this reason that delay has arisen because we are awaiting information from the 1966 population census. Otherwise, the report would be based on 1961 figures. I am sure that the hon. Member would agree that these would be utterly irrelevant to the present situation.