HC Deb 06 April 1978 vol 947 cc611-2
3. Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he agrees with the recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration on immigration; and if he will make a statement.

18. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he now proposes to take on the recommendations of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration with regard to the problems arising from immigration from the Indian subcontinent.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I shall be making a statement relevant to the recent report of the Select Committee at the end of Question Time today.

Mr. Arnold

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that, whatever his view about the shortcomings of some of the details of the Select Committee report, it is nevertheless a constructive approach to the problems of immigration? Why was he not prepared to welcome the publication more fully?

Mr. Rees

I welcomed the publication of the Select Committee report. There can be no doubt about that. The Government are, however, entitled to read it and put forward their views. They do not have to accept a Select Committee report.

Mr. Smith

Is the Home Secretary aware that the report is severely critical of the Home Office for the lack of official and accurate figures on this emotional subject? Does he not think that the Home Office should set itself the task of finding out how many immigrants there are in this country and, perhaps even more important, how many more are lawfully entitled to come here?

Mr. Rees

I hesitate to get involved in this matter in advance of my full response to the report. However, the hon. Gentleman is wrong. First, he must read the report that he signed. The Home Office is concerned about immigration statistics. The statistics applying to people living in this country are a different matter. But I would rather leave this matter alone for the moment.

Several Hon. Members

rose

Mr. Speaker

Order. There will be questions later, when the statement is made.