HC Deb 18 November 1976 vol 919 cc1542-4
3. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the number of Commonwealth immigrants into this country was nearly 16,000 in the first six months of this year compared with 14,500 in the corresponding period of 1975.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The figures relate to the numbers of Commonwealth citizens, including non-patrial United Kingdom passport holders, accepted for settlement on arrival in the United Kingdom. The increase was mainly due to the speeding up in the Indian subcontinent of the rate of issue of entry clearances to wives and children waiting to join heads of household already settled in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Shepherd

Is the Home Secretary aware that these figures will cause considerable concern to large sectors of our population who had hoped to see a reduction rather than an increase? Is he aware that when the present Prime Minister was Home Secretary the rate of immigration had dropped to 37,000 per annum, and that it is now rising higher than the 53,000 per annum of last year?

Mr. Rees

With regard to total figures, one must look very carefully at what the individual figures mean. In the first half of 1976—to take a precise figure which I have here—669 more wives and 785 more children were admitted as a result of the speed-up. Having read the debates that have taken place here, I think we should get away from the idea of a pool which grows bigger and bigger. That cannot be the case. It is much better for us all if we can reduce the pool quickly.

Miss Joan Lestor

The only unrestricted immigration into this country today is from the EEC countries. In addition, 6,000 work permits are issued to the catering trade for foreign nationals to come here to work, and the number of Filipino girls coming into this country mainly for domestic work is increasing all the time. Would it not therefore be better, when we are discussing immigration questions, to deal with the whole area of immigration and not concentrate on coloured immigration, which does not help the race situation in Britain?

Mr. Rees

There is no doubt that the number of people coming here from the Commonwealth with work permits has fallen to almost nothing. The figures that my hon. Friend gave in respect of Europe and the rest of the world are far more meaningful.

Mr. Whitelaw

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the real worry about the pool of dependants in the Indian subcontinent is that the size of the pool is totally unknown? Until it is known, can it be wise or right to speed up the numbers of those coming from that sub-continent?

Mr. Rees

Allowing the dependants of people settled here to come cannot increase the pool. When I came to the Department I found that the Franks Com- mittee was looking at this matter and, as I shall have reason to say later, I understand that the report is finished. I believe that the best thing now is to look at the Franks Committee's report. I have not read the report, but it cannot possibly resolve all the questions that need to be asked about this. However, it will be available shortly.