AFRICAN ASIANS (Hansard, 22 January 1973)

§ Mr. Iremonger

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the imminent advent into this country of further numbers of Asian British passport holders from African nations. In determining whether the matter is proper to be so discussed, Mr. Speaker, the Standing Orders of the House require you to have regard to the extent to which it concerns the administrative responsibilities of a Minister of the Crown. I respectfully submit that this criterion is doubly satisfied.

First, the Home Secretary has, and will continue to have, responsibility for the reception and accommodation of refugees when they arrive; and, secondly, the Foreign Secretary has a grave and urgent responsibility, since it is for him to try, through the United Nations or in direct negotiation with other Governments, to get responsibility for refugees from African nations accepted as an international responsibility comparable to that which is accepted in respect of refugees from other oppressive régimes.

In determining whether the matter is urgent, the Standing Order requires you, Mr. Speaker, to have regard to the probability of the matter being brought before the House in time by other means. In considering that point it might be helpful to ask how much notice and how much chance the House had of discussing the sudden decision taken by the Ugandan Government on a previous occasion when African Asians were catapulted 44 into our land. There are clear and serious warnings in national newspapers published over the weekend to the effect that similar sudden action is in contemplation by the Government of Kenya, and there is nothing in the Business Statement to suggest that the matter will be brought before the House in time.