8. Mr. Edward Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the position of Asians with British passport resident in East Africa.
§ 12. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan Government to dissuade them from expelling Asians with British passports from Uganda.
§ 31. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement concerning discussions which he has had with President Amin concerning the position of United Kingdom passport holders in Uganda.
§ 34. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan Government to secure a longer period of notice of intention to deport Asians with British passports.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeDespite our representations, the Ugandan Government have refused to rescind the decision to expel the Asians from Uganda or to extend the deadline of three months by which they must leave. They have, however, given assurances to the Secretary-General of the United Nations that Asians remaining after the deadline will not be maltreated.
Mr. TaylorHas any estimate been made of the assets which Ugandan 760 Asian immigrants have been prevented from bringing out of that country, and does my right hon. Friend think that there is any reasonable chance of their obtaining compensation? Can he report on any progress in discussions with the United Nations about the position of stateless Ugandans?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThat supplementary question goes slightly wider than the original Question. Nevertheless, I will answer my hon. Friend by saying that we have made representations about assets and again General Amin has told the United Nations Secretary-General that he does not intend to confiscate the property of the Asians. It still remains to be seen what he will do in terms of compensation. On the question of stateless Ugandan Asians, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, whom we have been actively stimulating to do his best, has got a good long way in his discussions with the Ugandan Government about the treatment of stateless refugees. Our concern has been to get them out of Uganda safely.
§ Mr. JenkinsDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that the undertaking given to the United Nations about good treatment will be fulfilled? Is it possible for him to take steps to try to ensure that this is the case?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeIn view of recent history in Uganda, I cannot say that pledges will be carried out. They have been solemnly given to the United Nations Secretary-General, and again to the President of Liberia and to the President of Zaire. If these pledges are not kept, I must reserve every right to use all the machinery of the United Nations.
§ Mr. PowellFor how many persons have entry certificates been issued to date?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI think in the region of 20,000.
§ Mr. PowellYou are wrong.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomePerhaps I can confirm it to my right hon. Friend. I have not the latest figure with me.
§ Mr. PowellIt is over 25,000.
§ Mr. DavisHas the Foreign Secretary given consideration to the convening of 761 a Commonwealth meeting in order to consider what useful place, if any, Uganda has in the Commonweath in future?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThere is a later Question on that subject.
§ Mr. DeedesHave we been able to make any assessment of the assets of the Asians who have left Uganda?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe Asians who are in a position to do so have given to our High Commissioner in Kampala an assessment of their assets. Therefore, these are recorded in the High Commission.
§ Mr. StokesIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is great public unease in the country that hundreds of thousands of Asians and other races with British passports, or possibly stateless persons, may claim the right to come to this country? Is there any comfort at all which Her Majesty's Government can give to people of this country on this matter which so vitally affects them and the future of their children?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThere is a Question on this matter later on the Order Paper.
§ 25. Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations or complaints have been made to him about the manner, speed and efficiency with which the British High Commission in Kampala is processing applications to enter the United Kingdom by British passport-holders previously resident in Uganda.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI have received a very small number of complaints and representations, including one from the hon. Gentleman. However, I am fully satisfied that the High Commission faced with very difficult circumstances has been working hard and efficiently to carry out its tasks before the deadline.
§ Mr. Douglas-MannWhile I appreciate that the staff of the High Commission are certainly working under extremely difficult circumstances, and that there has been a great deal of progress since my Question was tabled, will the right hon. Gentleman nevertheless take note that a considerable body of opinion would wish 762 the benefit of any doubt to be given to those who are applying for entry and that a considerable number of people in this country would not wish any of the Asians to be left to the tender mercies of General Amin after the deadline through any bureaucratic procedures on the part of the British Government?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWe shall not be bureaucratic in this matter, but there must be a limit to the number of Asians we can take, and we cannot take stateless Asians. But I have to resist the implication that the High Commission had not been efficient. What it has done in the time available is almost miraculous. We now look like getting all the Asians with British passports out before the deadline of 8th November. I deplore an anonymous memorandum dated 6th October which was circulated to a number of Members of Parliament and which had no basis of accuracy at all.