§ 12. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants there are in Great Britain today.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Registrar-General estimates that at mid-1968 there were some 2¾ million people living in Great Britain who had been born in other countries. These included ¾ million from the Irish Republic, nearly 1 million from foreign countries, and rather over 1 million from the Commonwealth.
§ Sir C. OsborneI am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for those figures. Does the number include the children of immigrants born in this country? Will the hon. Gentleman say what his Department estimates the number will be at the end of the century?
§ Mr. ReesThe number does not include those born in this country, because they are not immigrants, whatever the colour of their skin. It is extremely dangerous to guess at the population at the end of the century. But if it is any satisfaction to the hon. Gentleman, I can tell him that the estimate made about two years ago, based on certain assumptions, is now about 1 million out because of the fall in the numbers coming in. As that has happened in only two years, I hope that I shall not be asked to guess at the figure in 30 years' time.
§ Mr. McNamaraWill my hon. Friend make an estimate of the number of non-Celtic people now living in these islands since the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, the Danes and the Jutes?