§ 3.40 p.m.
§ Mr. Duncan Sandys (Streatham)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the law with respect to immigration.The purpose of my Bill is to make certain amendments to the Commonwealth Immigrants Acts. Everyone is agreed, of course, that all who live in Britain must be treated fairly and equally, regardless of nationality, race or religion. But that does not mean that we have an obligation to keep an open door to new settlers. In deciding who, and how many, to admit our first duty is to consider the interests and wishes of our own people.There is a tendency to highlight the racial aspect of immigration. Basically, however, this is not so much a problem of race as one of numbers and distribution. If the size of our immigrant population were smaller, and it were more widely spread over the whole country, its racial composition would be of little importance. Unfortunately, we have already admitted more immigrants than we can properly absorb, and most of them are concentrated in heavily overcrowded areas.
As a result, greatly increased demands have been made upon the not unlimited resources of the community. Inevitably, this has prejudiced the interests of the indigenous local population and created tension between them and the newcomers. Though racial differences are not the basic cause of the tension, we all know that they tend to heighten it.
Both parties share responsibility for allowing the present situation to develop. Therefore, we have a joint responsibility to do all that is still possible to prevent the problem reaching unmanageable proportions.
The Bill which I wish to introduce will provide, first, that in future all Commonwealth immigrants, like aliens, initially shall be admitted on a temporary basis without any automatic right to settle here permanently and without any automatic right to bring in dependants; and. secondly, while maintaining the right of immigrants who are already here to bring in their dependants, that the Home Secretary shall have power to phase their 1128 entry with due regard to the availability of houses, hospitals and schools in the areas concerned.
I know that there are some who feel that it is wrong to restrict in any way the entry of dependants, whatever may be the consequences. I submit that we have no right to ignore the consequences of our action or inaction. If, through our failure to face the issue now, Britain is allowed gradually to become a racially divided nation, like the United States, the blame and the shame will rest upon us.
Apart from that, it is really no kindness to allow tens of thousands more women and children to be crammed into our congested cities where, as we all know, they will be disgracefully overcrowded and in many cases forced to live in intolerable sub-standard slum conditions.
I agree with those who consider that the Government should have the same powers of control over immigrants from the Commonwealth as they have over aliens. There is a good case for extending the application of the Aliens Acts to Commonwealth citizens. The right time to make this change will be when the Aliens Acts, which are at present renewed annually, are replaced by comprehensive permanent legislation. But, since that is obviously beyond the scope of a Private Member's Bill, and since we cannot afford any further delay, I propose that in the meantime the Government be given the necessary powers by amending the Commonwealth Immigrants Acts in the manner I have suggested.
More effective immigration controls will limit the rate of new entries and, to that extent, will relieve pressure. But in the end, the solution of the problem will depend upon the patience and tolerance of the British people. We cannot, however, expect this of them, unless we can convince them that we in Parliament understand and share their anxieties and are doing everything in our power to prevent an already big problem from becoming still bigger.
That is the purpose of the Bill which I seek leave to introduce.
§ 3.46 p.m.
§ Miss Joan Lestor (Eton and Slough)Yesterday, the Evening Standard referred to the right hon. Gentleman's proposed 1129 Bill of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) as
… a bad Bill with a worse purpose.I would go further than that and say that the Bill. is one which pays lip-service to a principle which it does not intend to implement, which is to bring Commonwealth immigrants into line with aliens.Like many other hon. Members who have contributed to recent debates on immigration, the right hon. Gentleman referred to our keeping an open door. He gave the impression that there is little or no control of immigration, particularly in relation to coloured immigration. That is quite untrue, and the right hon. Gentleman knows it.
I share the view that there is a great deal to be said in favour of bringing Commonwealth immigrants and aliens into line, if it is operated properly. However, what we have to face, and what the right hon. Gentleman did not face, is that, to be logical, we would have to remove the present ceiling on the number of coloured Commonwealth immigrants coming in, since a similar ceiling is not applied to aliens. In theory, therefore, it is conceivable that we should have even more coloured people coming into the country. That is a possibility which the right hon. Gentleman has to face, and I do not believe that is what he intends.
The right hon. Gentleman said that his Bill provided for the number of dependants to be admitted, and, in that connection, I would refer him to Cmnd. 3830. The inference from what the right hon. Gentleman said is that Commonwealth citizens bring in dependants whereas aliens do not. But aliens do bring in dependants. They have the right to bring in their wives and children and, in certain circumstances, their husbands. They can bring in children up to the age of 18, whether they come here as temporary or permanent residents. Let us face the facts. We cannot have it both ways if Commonwealth immigrants are to be brought in line with aliens.
The difficulty of admitting dependants is one about which we hear again and again. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department has said that 50 per cent. of the dependants of Commonwealth citizens now coming in are the dependants of those 1130 who came here before 1965. The number of immigrants who have taken up work vouchers is less than 8,500, which means that the number of dependants coming in has declined and will continue to decline.
My fear about this propaganda on dependants is that the right hon. Gentleman will create the same situation as he created over the Kenya-Asians. People will bring in their dependants at a far quicker rate because they will be afraid that the Government will be panicked into bringing in legislation to phase their entry, as he suggests. This is absolutely indefensible. If we bring somebody here to work, as we have, on the assumption that he can stay if he wishes, then to turn round and say, "I am sorry, but you cannot bring your children in", or "You can only bring in your children up to the age of 13", is the sort of thing which took place in Southern Rhodesia under the Urban Areas Act, which prevents African servants having their wives and children living with them on white premises. Some people seem to have been taught by very interesting masters.
I should like to mention two other points on bringing immigrants into line with aliens. Commonwealth citizens have the right of permanent settlement which is not given to aliens. After four years aliens may apply to have their conditions removed and they may stay here. But this would not affect numbers if we are bringing one in line with the other. Most aliens who ask to stay permanently are granted leave to stay permanently. Roughly 18,000 a year during the last five years have had this permission granted. It follows logically that Commonwealth citizen who, after four years, say that they would like to stay here permanently will get that permission, unless we bring in colour, which the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Streatham said that he does not wish to do. It will not affect the numbers in any way. This is a red herring to "kid" people that this is an effective way of limiting the numbers of coloured faces coming into the country. I do not share the feeling about colour, but this is behind it. Therefore, numbers will not be affected at all.
My last point on bringing one in line with the other is the right to vote which the Commonwealth citizen has when he comes once he is on the register. Apart from the obvious argument about wanting 1131 to extend certain rights and privileges to members of the Commonwealth, the strongest argument against removing that right is that if people come here and intend to stay permanently, as most Commonwealth people do, I think that they will make far better citizens if we extend to them the right to participate, to vote and to play a part in the community than if we just say, "You are here for only a few years. You may work here, but we do not want you to play any part in our community." If we bring in people to work, and pay taxes, this is something which should be considered in terms of integration.
The right hon. Gentleman referred to overcrowding and education. These matters have been with us for a very long time. The Government have begun to deal with overcrowded areas by means of the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Bill. The danger is that we are repeating history, because we are making scapegoats of people instead of tackling the real problem. If we make scapegoats we will never get down to tackling the problem. We should encourage industry in people. We should encourage them to move out of overcrowded areas and build up those areas that are already in a bad state. If the Race Relations Act works properly, and immigrants who are identified by colour can move into areas which previously they have been prevented from doing, we will see them moving into the Streathams, the Bexleys, the Belgravias and the Westminsters.
Recent speeches both in and outside the House have made no contribution to the policy of improving race relations, and neither has the right hon. Gentleman
§ the Member for Streatham. They have contributed towards separating society into black and white. In my view, from the first speech that was made, in the late 1950s, calling for legislation to limit the number of coloured immigrants, the discussion on immigration has been conducted almost solely in the context of colour—limit, stop, send them back. What will we do in the end? This is the road along which we are travelling. We have never got down to discussing immigration; only coloured immigration. That is why so many in this country believe that all immigrants are black and that all people who have black faces are immigrants.
§ I urge hon. Members to vote against the Motion because some have seen fit to identify themselves, both in the House and outside, with the forces of reaction now clearly containing, in my view, all the elements of racialism. Others recognise that racialism can become a cancer that will destroy all that is decent in our society. If we fail to attack this problem we will share the responsibility for the tragic social consequences that will accompany its growth. It is high time that hon. Members and people outside the House who care about the quality of life in this country and the social fabric that they are handing on to their children, stood up and were counted on this issue, because their numbers are far greater than many would have us believe.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 13 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committees at commencement of Public Business):—
§ The House divided: Ayes 126, Noes 247.
1135| Division No. 60.] | AYES | [3.56 p.m. |
| Allason, James (Hemel Hempstead) | Burden, F. A. | Drayson, G. B. |
| Atkins, Humphrey (M't'n & M'd'n) | Campbell, B. (Oldham, W.) | Eden, Sir John |
| Baker, Kenneth (Acton) | Carlisle, Mark | Elliot, Capt. Walter (Carshalton) |
| Barber, fit. Hn. Anthony | Cary, Sir Robert | Eyre, Reginald |
| Baxter, William | Chichester-Clark, R. | Farr, John |
| Bell, Ronald | Clegg, Walter | Gibson-Watt, David |
| Bennett, Sir Frederic (Torquay) | Cooke, Robert | Giles, Rear-Adm. Morgan |
| Berry, Hn. Anthony | Cordle, John | Goodhart, Philip |
| Bitten, John | Corfield, F. V. | Gower, Raymond |
| Biggs-Davison, John | Costain, A. P. | Grant, Anthony |
| Blaker, Peter | Craddock, Sir Beresford (Spelthorne) | Grant-Ferris, R. |
| Boardman, Tom (Leicester, S. W.) | Crouch, David | Hamilton, Lord (Fermanagh) |
| Bossom, Sir Clive | Cunningham, Sir Knox | Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) |
| Boyd-Carpenter, Rt. Hn. John | Dalkeith, Earl of | Harrison, Col. Sir Harwood (Eye) |
| Brews, John | Dance, James | Harvey, Sir Arthur Vere |
| Bromley-Davenport, Lt. -Col. Sir Walter | d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, Sir Henry | Hastings, Stephen |
| Brown, Sir Edward (Bath) | Digby, Simon Wingfield | Howell, David (Guildford) |
| Buck, Antony (Colchester) | Dodds-Parker, Douglas | Iremonger, T. L. |
| Bullus, Sir Eric | Douglas-Home, Rt. Hn. Sir Alec | Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) |
| Jennings, J. C. (Burton) | Nicholls, Sir Harmar | Speed, Keith |
| King, Evelyn (Dorset, S.) | Onslow, Cranley | Stodart, Anthony |
| Kirk, Peter | Osborne, Sir Cyril (Louth) | Stoddart-Scott, Col. Sir M. |
| Kitson, Timothy | Page, Graham (Crosby) | Taylor, Sir Charles (Eastbourne) |
| Knight, Mrs. Jill | Page, John (Harrow, W.) | Taylor, Edward M.(G'gow, Cathcart) |
| Lancaster, Col. C. G. | Pearson, Sir Frank (Clitheroe) | Taylor, Frank (Moss Side) |
| Langford-Holt, Sir John | Peel, John | Temple, John M. |
| Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) | Peyton, John | Thatcher, Mrs. Margaret |
| Lloyd, Rt. Hn. Geoffrey (Sut'n C'dfield) | Powell, Rt. Hn. J. Enoch | Tilney, John |
| Longden, Gilbert | Prior, J. M. L. | Waddington, David |
| McAdden, Sir Stephen | Pym. Francis | Walker-Smith, Rt. Hn. Sir Derek |
| Macmillan, Maurice (Farnham) | Ramsden, Rt. Hn. James | Ward, Dame Irene |
| McNair-Wilson. Patrick | Renton, Rt. Hn. Sir David | Weatherill, Bernard |
| Mawby, Ray | Ridley, Hn. Nicholas | Wells, John (Maidstone) |
| Maydon, Lt.-Cmdr. S. L. C. | Ridsdale, Julian | Whitelaw, Rt. Hn. William |
| Mills, Stratton (Belfast, N.) | Robson Brown, Sir William | Williams, Donald (Dudley) |
| Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) | Rodgers, Sir John (Sevenoaks) | Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro) |
| Monro, Hector | Royle, Anthony | Wood, Rt. Hn. Richard |
| Montgomery, Fergus | Russell, Sir Ronald | Worsley, Marcus |
| More, Jasper | Sandys, Rt. Hn. D. | Younger, Hn. George |
| Morgan, Geraint (Denbigh) | Scott-Hopkins, James | |
| Mott-Radclyffe, Sir Charles | Sharples, Richard | TELLERS FOR THE AYES: |
| Monro-Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh | Silvester, Frederick | Mr. Victor Goodhew and |
| Murton, Oscar | Smith, Dudley (W'wick & L'mington) | Mr. Harold Gurden. |
| Nabarro, Sir Gerald | ||
| NOES | ||
| Albu, Austen | Edwards, William (Merioneth) | Jones, Dan (Burnley) |
| Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) | Ellis, John | Jones, T. Alec (Rhondda, West) |
| Alldritt, Walter | English, Michael | Judd, Frank |
| Archer, Peter | Ennals, David | Kelley, Richard |
| Ashley, Jack | Evans, Fred (Caerphilly) | Kenyon, Clifford |
| Ashton, Joe (Bassetlaw) | Evans, Gwynfor (C'marthen) | Kerr, Mrs. Anne (R'ter & Chatham) |
| Atkinson, Norman (Tottenham) | Evans, loan L. (Birm'h'm, Yardley) | Kerr, Dr. David (W'worth, Central) |
| Bagier, Gordon A. T. | Faulds, Andrew | Kerr, Russell (Feltham) |
| Barnett, Joel | Finch, Harold | Lawson, George |
| Bence, Cyril | Fitch, Alan (Wigan) | Ledger, Ron |
| Bennett, James (G'gow, Bridgeton) | Fletcher, Raymond (Ilkeston) | Lestor, Miss Joan |
| Bessell, Peter | Foley, Maurice | Lever, Harold (Cheetham) |
| Binns, John | Foot, Rt. Hn. Sir Dingle (Ipswich) | Lewis, Arthur (W. Ham, N.) |
| Bishop, E. S. | Foot, Michael (Ebbw Vale) | Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) |
| Blackburn, F. | Ford, Ben | Lipton, Marcus |
| Blenkinsop, Arthur | Forrester, John | Loughlin, Charles |
| Booth, Albert | Fowler, Gerry | |
| Boston, Terence | Fraser, John (Norwood) | Luard, Evan |
| Bottomlay, Rt. Hn. Arthur | Freeson, Reginald | Lubbock, Eric |
| Bray, Dr. Jeremy | Galpern, Sir Myer | Lyons, Edward (Bradford, E.) |
| Brooks, Edwin | Gardner, Tony | McBride, Neil |
| Brown, Hugh D. (G'gow, Provan) | Garrett, W. E. | McCann, John |
| Brown, R. W. (Shoreditch & F'bury) | Ginsburg, David | MacColl, James |
| Buchan, Norman | Gray, Dr. Hugh (Yarmouth) | Macdonald, A. H. |
| Buchanan, Richard (G'gow, Sp'burn) | Greenwood, Rt. Hn. Anthony | McGuire, Michael |
| Butler, Herbert (Hackney, C.) | Gregory, Arnold | McKay, Mrs. Margaret |
| Callaghan, Rt. Hn. James | Grey, Charles (Durham) | Mackie, John |
| Cant, R. B. | Griffiths, Rt. Hn. James (Llanelly) | Maclennan, Robert |
| Carmichael, Nell | Grimond, Rt. Hn. J. | McMillan, Tom (Glasgow, C.) |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | Hamilton, William (Fife, W.) | McNamara, J. Kevin |
| Chapman, Donald | Hamling, William | MacPherson, Malcolm |
| Coe, Denis | Harper, Joseph | Mahon, Peter (Preston, S.) |
| Coleman, Donald | ||
| Concannon, J. D. | Harrison, Walter (Wakefield) | Mallalieu, J. P. W.(Huddersfield, E.) |
| Conlan, Bernard | Hart, Rt. Hn. Judith | Manuel, Archie |
| Crossman, Rt. Hn. Richard | Hattersley, Roy | Mapp, Charles |
| Cullen, Mrs. Alice | Hazell, Bert | Marks, Kenneth |
| Dalyell Tam | Heffer, Eric S. | Marquand, David |
| Darling, Rt. Hn. George | Henig, Stanley | Marsh, Rt. Hn. Richard |
| Davies, G. Elfed (Rhondda, E.) | Herbison, Rt. Hn. Margaret | Mason, Rt. Hn. Roy |
| Davies, Dr. Ernest (Stretford) | Hilton, W. S. | Maxwell, Robert |
| Davies, Harold (Leek) | Hobden, Dennis | Mayhew, Christopher |
| Davies, Ifor (Gower) | Hooley, Frank | Mendelson, John |
| Davies, S. 0. (Merthyr) | Horner, John | Mikardo. Ian |
| Dell, Edmund | Howarth, Harry (Wellingborough) | Millan, Bruce |
| Dempsey James | Hoy, James | Miller, Dr. M. S. |
| Dewar, Donald | Huckfield, Leslie | Milne, Edward (Blyth) |
| Diamond, Rt. Hn. John | Hughes, Emrys (Ayrshire, S.) | Mitchell, R. C. (S'th'pton, Test) |
| Dickens, James | Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) | Molloy, William |
| Dobson, Ray | Hughes, Roy (Newport) | Moonman, Eric |
| Doig, Peter | Hunter, Adam | Morgan, Elystan (Cardiganshire) |
| Driberg, Tom | Hynd, John | Morris, Alfred (Wythenshawe) |
| Dunnett, Jack | Irvine, Sir Arthur (Edge Hill) | Morris, Charles R. (Openshaw) |
| Dunwoody, Mrs. Gwyneth (Exeter) | Jeger, Mrs. Lena (H'b'n&St. P'crae, S.) | Murray, Albert |
| Dunwoody, Dr. John (F'th & C'b'e) | Johnson, Carol (Lewisham, S.) | Newens, Stan |
| Eadie, Alex | Johnson, James (K'ston-on-Hull, W.) | Noel-Baker, Rt. Hn.Philip (Derby,S.) |
| Oakes, Gordon | Reynolds, Rt. Hn. G. W. | Thomson, Rt. Hn. George |
| Ogden, Eric | Rhodes, Geoffrey | Thornton, Ernest |
| O'Malley, Brian | Roberts, Albert (Normanton) | Thorpe, Rt. Hn. Jeremy |
| Oram, Albert E. | Roberts, Rt. Hn. Goronwy | Tinn, James |
| Orbach, Maurice | Robertson, John (Paisley) | Varley, Eric G. |
| Orme, Stanley | Robinson, Rt. Hn. Kenneth (St. P'c'as) | Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley) |
| Oswald, Thomas | Rodgers, William (Stockton) | Wainwright, Richard (Colne Valley) |
| Owen, Or. David (Plymouth, S'tn) | Roebuck, Roy | Walker, Harold (Doncaster) |
| Owen, Will (Morpeth) | Ross, Rt. Hn. William | Watkins, Tudor (Brecon & Radnor) |
| Padley, Walter | Rowlands, E. | Weitzman, David |
| Page, Derek (King's Lynn) | Shaw, Arnold (Ilford, S.) | Wellbeloved, James |
| Palmer, Arthur | Sheldon, Robert | Wells, William (Walsall, N.) |
| Pannell, Rt. Hn. Charles | Shore, Rt. Hn. Peter (Stepney) | Whitaker, Ben |
| Pardoe, John | Silkin, Rt. Hn. John (Deptford) | White, Mrs. Eirene |
| Park, Trevor | Silkin, Hn. S. C. (Dulwich) | Whitlock, William |
| Parker, John (Dagenham) | Silverman, Julius | Wilkins, W. A. |
| Parkyn, Brian (Bedford) | Skeffington, Arthur | Williams, Alan (Swansea, W.) |
| Pearson, Arthur (Pontypridd) | Slater, Joseph | Williams, Alan Lee (Hornchurch) |
| Peart, Rt. Hn. Fred | Small, William | Williams, Clifford (Abertillery) |
| Pentland, Norman | Snow, Julian | Willis, Rt. Hn. George |
| Perry, Emest G. (Battersea, S.) | Spriggs, Leslie | Wilson, William (Coventry, S.) |
| Perry, George H. (Nottingham, S.) | Steel, David (Roxburgh) | Winnick, David |
| Prentice, Rt. Hn. R. E. | Stewart, Rt. Hn. Michael | Woodburn, Rt. Hn. A. |
| Price, Christopher (Perry Barr) | Stonehouse, Rt. Hn. John | Wyatt, Woodrow |
| Price, William (Rugby) | Strauss, Rt. Hn. G. R. | |
| Probert, Arthur | Summerskill, Hn. Dr. Shirley | TELLERS FOR THE NOES: |
| Randall, Harry | Swain, Thomas | Mr. John Lee and |
| Rankin, John | Taverne, Dick | Mr. Sydney Bidwell. |
| Rees, Merlyn | Thomas, Rt. Hn. George |