HC Deb 23 July 1970 vol 804 cc742-3
41. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the future entry of Kenya Asians into this country.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Mark Carlisle)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 9th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 87.]

Mr. Wall

As we have certain special moral obligations towards Kenya Asians with British passports, and as they would much more easily be absorbed into our society, would my hon. Friend consider asking the Government of India and Pakistan to waive their quota to give Kenya Asians with British passports priority?

Mr. Carlisle

As my hon. Friend knows, British passport holders from East Africa are now permitted into this country on the basis of 1,500 special vouchers per year. My right hon. Friend is considering the whole question and will make a statement.

Mr. Fletcher-Cooke

Have not the Government of India stated that they are prepared to waive their quota, for what that is worth, in favour of these very admirable potential immigrants into this country?

Mr. Carlisle

All I can say is that my right hon. Friend will take that into account in the consideration which he is giving to the question.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

On a point of order. May I ask whether the right hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Edward Short), sitting on the Opposition Front Bench, is shadow for both home and educational affairs? If he is not shadow for home affairs, where is the shadow Home Secretary?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have always deprecated points of order during Question Time unless they are necessary. That was not a point of order; it was a point of curiosity.