§ 19. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his review of the operation of Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, with regard to the repatriation of Commonwealth immigrants.
§ Mr. R. CarrYes, Sir. As a result of my review I have authorised a number of relaxations in the criteria governing eligibility for assistance under this scheme and I will, with permission, circulate full details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In particular, family groups whose weekly income is up to £5 above supplementary benefit level will now come within the scheme.
§ Mr. ChapmanI am grateful for that statement, which I shall study. Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great concern over the delays in applications being vetted? Will he confirm that he has come to the conclusion that the International Social Service is the right agency to implement Section 29 and, if so, will he say whether it is to be given additional personnel so that applications may be made more quickly?
§ Mr. CarrIf the organisation needs more staff I can assure my hon. Friend that it has only to come to me and talk about the question and I will consider it sympathetically. This organisation is a satisfactory one for the purpose. Some length of time is involved, because it is a welfare provision and the terms of the Act impose certain duties on whoever is operating the scheme to inquire into the circumstances of each family in relation to children, dependants, and all the rest. This is necessarily a somewhat lengthy business.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingIs my right hon. Friend able to tell us how many people were repatriated in the last 12 months, and what estimate he has made of the number likely to be repatriated under the new conditions? What increase is likely?
§ Mr. CarrI cannot give my hon. Friend the exact numbers off the cuff. I think it was over 100 last year, and a further 100 under the supplementary benefit scheme. It is impossible to forecast what change these new, relaxed conditions will bring about.