HC Deb 20 November 1972 vol 846 cc891-3
10. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Anglo-Australian relations.

Mr. Amery

Our relations with Australia remain as always very good and close.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

On this festival day of loyalty should we not be assured that our fellow subjects from Australia, Canada and New Zealand will be treated here as members of one family, on the basis of reciprocity? Will the Government take note that there are those on these benches who will be unable to support regulations which are laid which are conducive to estrangement, separatism and republicanism?

Mr. Amery

If my hon. Friend is referring to reports in the British and Australian Press that Australians coming here will be regarded as aliens I can assure him that this will not be the case. They will continue, as at present, to enjoy full civic rights, including the right to vote, the right to stand for public office, and the right to join the police and the armed forces. There is nothing in the new immigration rules to make it more difficult for Australians or New Zealanders or Canadians to come here, or to make them less welcome. Ordinary visitors and working holidaymakers, who together account for over 99 per cent. of Australians—and, I believe, New Zealanders—coming here, will not be affected by the new rules. Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians who come here to work permanently will in future need work permits instead of the old employment vouchers. They will not find it is any harder to get these than heretofore; it may even be easier. The House will be discussing the entire problem on Wednesday. I hesitate to say more now, and will leave it to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary then.

Mr. Callaghan

Is the Minister aware that that very long reply is also very misleading, and that it fails to deal with the real nub of the question? May I repeat to him a question that I put to the Foreign Secretary some time ago, arising out of a document published by the Labour Party on this whole question many months ago? Is he aware that it is the considered conclusion of most people who have studied this subject that the British Nationality Act, 1948, is hopelessly out of date, and that it was a great pity that the Government failed to put it right when the new Bill was introduced in 1971? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider seriously, before Wednesday, the proposition which the Labour Party has made that there should be the appointment of a Governmental inquiry into all aspects of citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, to be accompanied or followed by an inquiry into Commonwealth citizenship conducted through the Commonwealth Secretariat? Is he aware that if he does not do this he will be under continuing difficulties about differences in treatment between Commonwealth entrants into this country, Europeans who come to this country, and others?

Mr. Amery

Of course, no one in this House would ignore the difficulties that we face, or could fail to be concerned about them. I would not, however, wish to anticipate what my right hon. Friend will say on Wednesday.

Sir F. Bennett

Is the Minister aware that he will have to do very much better than this on Wednesday if the Government are to receive the support that they require? Will he also bear in mind, with regard to the intervention by the right hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) that if the Labour Party, aided by a couple of misguided Conservatives, had not voted the way they did in Committee last year on the Immigration Bill this problem would never have arisen?

Mr. Amery

I should say that I, personally, shall not be taking part in the debate on Wednesday, but I will see that my hon. Friend's views are conveyed to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Loughlin

May I assure the right hon. Gentleman that his statement that it may be easier for the Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians to come here will be widely welcomed not only in this House but in the country as a whole, and in those countries, too—but will he, in view of the fact that he has said this, make it abundantly clear in the legislation? Is he aware that there is increasing resentment in those countries, and that they are seriously considering whether they will be able to give to people who wish to emigrate from Britain to those countries the same facilities that they have previously had?

Mr. Amery

I take the point. I am not sure whether a legislative or administrative answer is required, but I will certainly look into what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

On a point of order. I beg to give notice that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of those replies, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment as soon as possible.