HC Deb 20 May 1980 vol 985 cc240-1
11. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of evidence that employment agencies recruit from overseas resident domestics who have dependent children without informing them that they are liable to be removed for failing to declare such dependent children, if he will conduct an inquiry into the practices of these agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jim Lester

If the hon. Member will let me have the evidence to which he refers, I shall be pleased to have the matter investigated.

Mr. Dubs

Does the Minister accept that several hundred of these unfortunate women, who have come to this country without appropriate warnings from his Department, are now under possible threat of expulsion? Should he not talk to Home Office Ministers and ensure that these women are treated with leniency?

Mr. Lester

I understand that it is a question, not of having appropriate warnings but of people coming to this country on the basis that they have no dependants and no children and, having subsequently got the right to live here, finding that they have got children and dependants. That is the problem.

Mr. James A. Dunn

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that in his answer he makes the first mistake? According to reports that I have read, the people to whom the question refers are ignorant of our customs and would not be asked at the point of reception whether they had dependants. In those circumstances I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that these people find themselves alone and in grave difficulties. Will he consult his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to see whether more compassion and understanding can be injected into this serious problem?

Mr. Lester

As I have already suggested, if any hon. Member cares to give me the evidence, I shall be pleased to have it investigated.