§ 14. Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in his review of section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWe are making good progress in reviewing the administrative criteria governing the operation of the repatriation scheme under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, and hope to reach conclusions shortly.
§ Mr. ProctorIn the course of my hon. and learned Friend's review of this provision, will he take account of the growing demand from the ethnic communities—not from their self-appointed leaders—for further assistance in the form of resettlement grants for those who genuinely wish to go home? How will he respond to that demand?
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe introduction of a resettlement grant would require primary legislation. The present arrangements provide adequate assistance for those who genuinely want to go, and the fact that few actively seek financial assistance for travel shows that few want to go. The vast majority of the members of the ethnic minority communities settled here want to stay and have no interest in repatriation.
Mr. J. Enoch PowellWhen other European countries such as West Germany and France are studying radically the consequences of the past large influx of alien population, is it not time for this country to move beyond the timidity and triviality of section 29?
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe right hon. Gentleman is presumably referring to German guest workers and a scheme recently proposed by the German Government. There is no parallel between the situation in Germany and that here. The Germans are talking about people admitted on a temporary basis, but we are talking about people who, in the main, are settled here.
§ Mr. WilkinsonIs it not a fact that the great majority of those settled here are either Commonwealth nationals, and as such have equal rights with British citizens, or former Commonwealth nationals who have gone to the trouble of acquiring British nationality? That being the case, does it not behove us to make these people welcome and as fully a part of our society as possible?
§ Mr. WaddingtonI agree.
§ Mr. WinnickIf repatriation is to take place, is the Minister aware that the people who need to be repatriated are race hate-mongers and mischief-makers, such as the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Proctor) who asked the question?
§ Mr. WaddingtonOffensive remarks of that nature do not help anyone. It is quite appropriate for us to speak our minds in the House, and it is perfectly proper for people who believe that there should be more scope for repatriation to say so. It is also my job to speak my mind, and I believe that the provisions now on the statute book are adequate.