Immigration Rules (Hansard, 21 October 1986)

§ 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, the statement of change in the immigration rules, Cmnd. 9914, and the rights of Members. The exchanges that have taken place this afternoon on the statement made by the Home Secretary illustrate vividly the widespread concern in the House at the Government decision made earlier this month to introduce visas for citizens of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh wishing to visit this country. In the view of many, that decision was racist, will do severe damage to community relations in many areas in Britain and will damage already poor relations between Britain and Commonwalth countries. I am sure that many of us were concerned to hear Prime Minister Gandhi condemn this decision as "racist" and "very sad".

The nationals of the countries concerned very much resent that they are now required to obtain visas to visit this country, and it is important that we should remember that most people concerned in this are visitors. It is also important to remember that this decision has effectively abolished the right of children of British citizens to be able to come to this country and to claim the right of entry, and if refused to remain in this country pending appeal. It is also creating difficulties for students because now they will be given visas to come to this country only if they possess a letter of acceptance from a college admitting them to a course of study. It is also causing deep resentment among nationals of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh who have lived in this country for many years — many of them have lived in your constituency, Mr. Speaker, for many years — and who are now required to have a visa 968 exemption stamp in their passport if, on the advice of the Home Secretary, they are to avoid difficulties when they return to this country. We, as their representatives, regret that they have to go to the time, trouble and inconvenience of obtaining that stamp.

The Government's policy is clearly aimed at stopping a number of black and Asian people from being able to visit this country and preventing a number of Members of Parliament from assisting their constituents when their relatives and friends experience difficulties in being admitted to the country. The Home Secretary has said that a debate will be held. If you are in difficulty in agreeing my application, Mr. Speaker, I ask you in the name of Lord Mowbray-King and in the spirit of the words that you uttered earlier about the importance of the office that you hold concerning the rights of Members, to put pressure on the Government to ensure that the debate will be a full debate, and not a late night hour and a half on a Thursday night, which will deny all of us the opportunity to put our case against this move.

It should be a debate in which the Government are called to the House to account for their actions We can quiz them on their decisions and—