§ 17. Mr. Harold Gurdenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to remove from illegal immigrants the immunity from prosecution they enjoy if they are not apprehended within 28 days of arrival in Great Britain.
§ Mr. ReesThe hon. Member is mistaken in thinking that there is a time limit of 28 days on prosecution for this offence. Under Section 3 of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1968, it is an offence for a Commonwealth citizen to land in the United Kingdom without examination by an immigration officer.
§ Mr. GurdenIs the Minister aware that there is a widespread feeling that if illegal immigrants are not prosecuted within 28 days they will enjoy immunity from prosecution?
§ Mr. ReesIf there is a wide misunderstanding on this, my brief experience of race relations leads me to believe that it is not the only matter concerning race relations which is misunderstood.