Immigration (Hansard, 28 March 1974)

§ 2. Mr. Tebbit
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to make any changes in the regulations concerning the admission of immigrants.

§ Mr. Roy Jenkins
I propose to make such limited changes as from time to time seem to be desirable.

§ Mr. Tebbit
Will the purpose of those limited changes be to increase or decrease the number of Commonwealth immigrants coming to this country?

§ Mr. Jenkins
The purpose will be neither to increase nor to decrease the numbers but to try to operate what is generally agreed to be necessary immigration controls in a way compatible with both justice and humanity.

§ Mr. Ford
Will my right hon. Friend do everything possible and take every care to seek to bring families together, particularly in cases where the male has been working over here and making a contribution for several years?

§ Mr. Jenkins
Yes, I note what my hon. Friend has said, and I am aware of his experience of these problems in his constituency.

§ Mr. Lane
Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm or deny a report in The Guardian yesterday about illegal immigrants? If he is thinking of replacing the last Government's case-by-case approach by a general amnesty for an uncertain number of illegal immigrants, will he bear in mind that this would also have the effect of giving a right of entry to a much larger number, possibly several thousands, of their dependants?

§ Mr. Jenkins
There is a later Question on this issue.

Mr. Boardman
Will the Home Secretary give an assurance that before making any relaxation of the regulations he will have the fullest consultation with local authorities and other responsible bodies in cities such as Leicester, which will feel the main impact of any such changes?

§ Mr. Jenkins
I shall bear that consideration in mind in making any major change affecting numbers, but, as I indicated in my reply to the original Question, I referred to limited changes, and I do not regard the decision which I took last week relating to the reuniting of split families amongst Ugandan Asians as being other than limited and highly desirable.