Immigration Control (Hansard, 28 October 1985)

§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, "immigration control."

Such a debate would allow the Government to give the House information on three important matters. First, it would enable the Government to confirm or deny reports that they are planning to introduce visa requirements for visitors coming to Britain from the New Commonwealth and Pakistan. Yesterday The Sunday Times reported: The Home Office is considering imposing visa requirements on visitors entering Britain from some Asian and black Commonwealth countries. The move is being canvassed in Whitehall as a means of clearing the immigration bottleneck at London's Heathrow airport. Bangladesh is the country causing immigration officers most concern at present. It is widely felt that if visas are introduced for Bangladeshi visitors other Commonwealth countries in the Indian sub-continent and north Africa will follow. Secondly, such a debate would allow the Government to explain to the House their action to resolve the crisis within the immigration service that is primarily caused by staff shortages, which the Government refuse to remedy. The Sunday Times referred to the crisis at Heathrow as being a reason why the Government are considering the introduction of visa requirements for visitors to Britain. The Guardian today confirms that the introduction of visas for visitors from Commonwealth countries was suggested in reports at the weekend. Last night a spokesman for the Home Office said that the matter was under consideration, and that was confirmed later by another spokesman for the Home Office.

Thirdly, the debate would give the Minister of State, —who I am glad to see has returned to the Chamber and taken his place on the Treasury Front Bench—an opportunity to substantiate or withdraw the serious allegations that he made in the House on Thursday. The evident concern that they caused has been reflected by the numerous points of order that have been raised this afternoon.

You, Mr. Speaker, showed sympathy with the suggestion of my right hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) that the Home Secretary should make a statement. An emergency debate would provide an excellent opportunity for the Home Secretary to tell the House whether the Government are planning to introduce visas for visitors coming from Bangladesh and shortly from other New Commonwealth countries and Pakistan. Such a debate would also provide an opportunity for the right hon. Gentleman to tell us what action is being taken to deal with the administrative crisis within the immigration service.

You will recall, Mr. Speaker, that many hon. Members, including yourself, were deeply concerned when the Government chose over the Whitsun Bank Holiday to introduce visas for visitors seeking to come here from Sri Lanka. You will remember also that many hon. Members were concerned by the introduction of entry clearance fees for all people seeking visas to come to Britain for settlement. The fees were slipped through by the Government during the Christmas recess.

I suspect, other hon. Members suspect and many individuals and organisations outside the House who 673 represent the interests of ethnic minorities suspect that the Government are planning visas for Bangladesh visitors coming to Britain and that they will do so during the period which starts on Wednesday. when the House will not he sitting, and prior to the new Session.

To avoid any recriminations that will ensue if the Government act in that way, I suggest that the best course of action for the Government would be to reassure the House as to their intentions for the extension of visa requirements during a debate which obviously is for you to grant, Mr. Speaker. The Government would have an opportunity to provide a full explanation and to take up the serious allegations which were made by the Minister on Thursday. They would be able to tell us what action they are taking to deal with the immigration crisis at Heathrow and other ports of entry throughout the country.