HC Deb 26 May 1971 vol 818 cc380-5
The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

With permission, Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a statement.

The Government have now completed their review of the position of United Kingdom passport holders. We have had discussions with Governments in East Africa with a view to facilitating more orderly movement of United Kingdom passport holders to this country and reducing the waiting time for vouchers. Discussions with the Government of Uganda were interrupted by the change of Government there, but have been resumed.

The Government have decided to double the rate of entry of United Kingdom passport holders by the issue of 3,000, instead of 1,500, special vouchers a year for heads of households. This increase will take effect from 1st June. In addition, over and above this there will be a once-for-all allocation of 1,500 vouchers. These will be issued over the next six months.

The Government have also decided at the same time to reduce the number of Commonwealth citizens entering this coun Commonwealth citizens entering this country to take up employment. They intend to cut from 4,000 to about 2,000 the annual rate of admission of employment voucher holders. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, is today circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a Written Answer giving the changes in the voucher scheme to effect this reduction. In brief, no more category A vouchers will be issued to independent Commonwealth countries—other than Malta—for unskilled or semiskilled employment; and a reduction will be made in the issue of category B vouchers.

I believe that these steps provide the best attainable solution of a difficult human problem of conflicting rights and interests which has long given concern to both sides of the House.

Mr. Callaghan

May I ask the Home Secretary one or two questions? First, have the discussions with the East African Governments led to agreement with them that they shall no longer bring pressure to bear upon British passport holders to leave especially Uganda and Kenya, or is this a unilateral action by the Government in the absence of getting agreement? Second, on a point of detail, will heads of households be allowed to be accompanied by their dependants? In view of the new Immigration Bill, this is clearly a point that might be called in question. I should be glad if the right hon. Gentleman will confirm that this obvious common sense will be adopted.

Third, why is it necessary to reduce the number of B voucher holders entering this country, as they are specialists or technicians who have something to contribute to this country? Why is it necessary to reduce the number of these skilled men entering, some of whom are doctors or dentists, or have some other professional qualifications?

Finally, although I recognise that with the present level of unemployment in Britain people are not applying to come here in the same numbers, is it not rather derisory to reduce this trifling number of people who now wish to come to Britain in this way?

Mr. Maudling First, we have had discussions with Governments in East Africa, particularly with the Government of Kenya, and I think we have reached a common point of view on the way this problem should be handled. Second, dependants will come with heads of households.

The third and fourth points are related. The problem here, as the right hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do, has always been the conflicting problem of giving access to more of these people—more access more quickly—without at the same time creating more tensions in community relations here. This has always been the problem which, for various reasons, the House has faced. This was the basis of the right hon. Gentleman's own legislation in 1968. I am following that principle.

Sir D. Renton

Whilst not dissenting from any part of my right hon. Friend's statement, may I ask if he can give the House an idea of the total effect of these proposals taken together upon our immigration figures over a period of, say, 12 months in the near future?

Mr. Maudling

The broad effect should be that the total should not change appreciably, but we are recognising what I have always believed to be the truth—namely, that these people have a prior claim.

Mr. David Steel

Is the Secretary of State aware that his announcement about the East African United Kingdom passport holders will be warmly welcomed among the communities there, and not just for the annual increase but particularly because of the very sensible measure of the once-for-all allocation of 1,500 vouchers? I have in mind particularly the very severe social problems faced by these people, problems which I saw for myself only last week. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this part of his statement will be widely welcomed both there and by hon. Members on both sides of the House who have been pressing for this for some time, because it is a humanitarian step?

Mr. Maudling

I am very gratified to hear that point of view expressed by the hon. Gentleman, because I know that he has studied this problem very closely.

Mr. Deedes

I accept that the cut in the issue of A vouchers will mean very little in India and Pakistan, but is my right hon. Friend aware that it will hit the Caribbean to some extent? Will it be possible to offer any differential in favour of the Caribbean?

Mr. Maudling

I will look into that question. My impression is that the effect on the Caribbean will be very small.

Mr. Crawshaw

Is the Secretary of State aware that his statement is very gratifying to those who for a considerable time have felt very ashamed of our policy in this regard? How will this ease the general burden of people coming from that source? As these people sacrificed their right to remain in their country by relying on a promise from this country which was later dishonoured, even if it means reducing even further the number of other immigrants coming here, should not these people be accorded priority above all others?

Mr. Maudling

I am grateful. This is not an ideal solution. It is not a problem to which there is an ideal solution. It is the best solution that we can find. It will make a big, immediate contribution. It will prove that we really intend to carry out what we have said.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Will my right hon. Friend say what has happened to Her Majesty's Government's exchanges with the Governments of India and Pakistan, whence the East African Asians originated? How many are those Commonwealth countries taking? Are they assuming any responsibility? Are they helping at all?

Mr. Maudling

We have been in close touch with the Indian Government in this matter, and they have been most helpful.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

While welcoming the statement about the East African United Kingdom passport holders, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that there will be concern about this cut among other Commonwealth citizens? Is not it the case now that it may become more difficult in certain circumstances for a Commonwealth citizen to come to this country than it is for other aliens? Is not that a development against which many of us must set our faces, and will not it be a cause of concern amongst some of us about our approach to the Common Market?

Mr. Maudling

I cannot make any statement about aliens as opposed to Commonwealth citizens, but I hope that there will be a Government statement in the near future. We believe that Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth people coming here should be treated on the same principle.

Mr. Lane

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his announcement about United Kingdom passport holders from East Africa will be welcomed in this country, not least because of the valuable contribution to British life made by the overwhelming majority of them? On the point about reducing the waiting time, can my right hon. Friend confirm that his Department will do everything possible to cut down the administrative delays which have led to a great deal of individual hardship?

Mr. Maudling

Certainly we shall try to do that, and we shall try to give priority to the most pressing cases.

Mr. Freeson

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept from one hon. Member who represents an area which contains considerable numbers of immigrants from many parts of the world that his reference to easing community tensions by cutting to 2,000 the number of vouchers from other parts of the Commonwealth is derisory and contemptible in the view of many people? While I welcome the other parts of his statement, may I put one specific question to him? What will be the impact of this cut on the quota system for Commonwealth immigration which has operated to date, and what impact will it have on the differential in favour of Malta which has operated since 1965?

Mr. Maudling

I said in my statement that the special position of Malta will be recognised and continued.

Mr. Freeson

How?

Mr. Maudling

Through the quota system. In general, I think that it was right in this very difficult and delicately balanced situation to provide more opportunity for our own United Kingdom passport holders while not at the same time increasing the flow of immigrants.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The right hon. Gentleman has stated that the employment voucher scheme is to be changed. Will he say how these vouchers, which are peculiar to Commonwealth citizens, are to be reallocated, when, under the Immigration Bill which is at present in Committee, they are to be ended and replaced by a completely different scheme?

Mr. Maudling

I was talking about the employment voucher situation as it is at the moment and the steps to be taken in present circumstances.

Mr. Evelyn King

My right hon. Friend said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) that the Government of India had been most helpful. That is most encouraging. Will he elaborate on that and say in what way?

Mr. Biggs-Davison

How many?

Mr. Maudling

I cannot give an exact figure without notice. The Indian Government have recognised that it is desirable that people should want to return to India, and substantial numbers have been going back there.

Miss Lesior

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is to be congratulated on the action that he is taking to alleviate some of the difficulties being experienced by British passport holders in East Africa? May I pursue the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Merlyn Rees) and point out that the so-called principle behind the Immigration Bill at present before the House is that aliens and Commonwealth citizens should be put on exactly the same basis. Is not the right hon. Gentleman's statement about cutting down the number of other immigrants a contradiction of his own so-called principle?

Mr. Maudling

I am working within the present situation, so long as the employment voucher system continues. The measures that we are taking involving the elimination of most unskilled and semi-skilled people will in fact be consistent with the Bill which is now before a Standing Committee and, therefore, continuity will be preserved.

Several Hon. Members rose——

Mr. Speaker

Order.