HC Deb 20 December 1984 vol 70 cc542-4
12. Mr. James Lamond

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of visitors refused entry to the United Kingdom have been granted temporary admission between January 1984 and the latest available date.

Mr. Waddington

The information is not available in the form requested, but between 1 January and 30 September, which is the latest date for which figures are available, 6,358 passengers were granted temporary admission either pending completion of their examination or following refusal of leave to enter. During the corresponding period, a total of 13,400 people were refused leave to enter.

Mr. Lamond

As I am one of the hon. Members who have used as much influence as they have with Ministers to obtain temporary admission for relatives of their constituents—and I am not ashamed of that—may I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that, as far as I know, none of those for whom I obtained temporary admission did not present themselves for return to their home country? If that is the case, does it not suggest that the regulations are applied rather harshly, particularly at Heathrow? They seem to trap many people who are perfectly innocent visitors to this country.

Mr. Waddington

I do not think so, but obviously it is my duty to see that immigration officers carry out theirs correctly and do not refuse admission unless they are not satisfied that a person is a genuine visitor. I remind the House that temporary admission is an alternative to detention and not a substitute for admission as a visitor, and that temporary admission should properly arise only when hon. Members believe that they have a proper case to put the Minister on the ground that the immigration officer has made a mistake.

I have a further comment that is relevant to the attack made a moment ago by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman). In 1983, 7,292 people were granted temporary admission, compared with 3,874 in 1978. So much for the draconian enforcement of the law by the Conservative Government. We have granted temporary admission far more often than the Labour Government did.

Sir Dudley Smith

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that my experience as one who represents an area of high immigration with many visitors is that he is extremely fair and even-handed in dealing with the matter?

Mr. Waddington

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for saying that. The matter has to be put in perspective. Lower than 1 per cent. of those coming from the Indian subcontinent were refused entry last year. Again in reply to the ridiculous attack made by the right hon. Member for Gorton, that refusal rate is similar to the refusal rate under the Labour Government.

Mr. Dubs

Is it not the truth that the way in which visitors are treated at Heathrow airport and other points of entry is racially discriminatory? Is it not the truth that most visitors who are refused entry are black or come from the Asian subcontinent and that the device of temporary admission provides one way for the Home Office to take some of the heat off itself? Finally, will the Minister confirm that the tiny proportion of those granted temporary admission who do not leave the country on the due date is a sign that almost all those people should have been allowed in as of right?

Mr. Waddington

I do not for one moment concede that the system is racially discriminatory. However, if the system is racially discriminatory now, it was certainly racially discriminatory under the Labour Government. It has not changed one iota since the hon. Gentleman's party was in office, except that we are more generous on temporary admission than the Labour Government ever were.