HC Deb 24 July 1969 vol 787 cc2119-20
23. Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants from India, Pakistan and Kenya arrived in this country in May and June, 1969 with a work permit; how many dependants of immigrants arrived in the same period; and how many of either category left this country permanently in the same period, voluntarily or otherwise.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that the figure for dependants coming in during the last two months has been extremely high and that the time has come to take another look at the existing situation to see what can be done to bring down the flow?

Mr. Rees

What I can tell the hon. Gentleman is that in the first five months of 1969 the number of dependants fell by 20 per cent.

Mr. Howie

Is my hon. Friend aware that among some of our community relations departments there is a feeling that the Home Office is applying the rules with undue rigour? Will my hon. Friend undertake to look at all applications for entry of immigrants' dependants with his well-known personal sympathy?

Mr. Rees

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion. There are rules to be followed. The present Government introduced the Immigration Appeals Act, which will come into force probably in the early part of next year. It is a great liberalising Act in this sense.

The following is the available information:

COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRATION ADMISSIONS IN MAY, 1969
Employment voucher holders Dependants
Citizens of India 119 1,190
Citizens of Pakistan 39 1,582
Citizens of Kenya — 39
Special voucher holders Dependants
United Kingdom passport holders from East Africa 140 408
Notes:
1. The figures of dependants include dependants of immigrants who came to this country earlier.
2. Figures for June are not yet available.
3. Corresponding figures for Commonwealth citizens leaving the United Kingdom permanently are not available.
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