HC Deb 29 March 1973 vol 853 cc1517-8
14. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to the application for immigration of Mr. C. B. Clifford of Calcutta, India, following the recent representations made to him by the hon. Member for Harrow, East.

Mr. Lane

I have considered very carefully the further information which my hon. Friend has sent me, but I am not satisfied that Mr. Clifford is qualified to come here under the immigration rules.

Mr. Dykes

I return to the normal pattern of supplementary questions. My hon. Friend is always extremely fair and painstaking on these occasions—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The ordinary pattern is not a statement.

Mr. Dykes

Will my hon. Friend seriously reconsider this case? All the evidence clearly indicates that this man is a patrial under the revised immigration rules. I hope that my hon. Friend will reconsider this case.

Mr. Lane

I shall pass over the blush-making preliminaries. I have considered this case carefully. On the evidence, Mr. Clifford is not a patrial. If there were any further evidence, for example, that his grandfather was born in the Isle of Wight, I would consider it. Meanwhile, I am willing to discuss the case.