§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the working of the regulations under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act in respect of the admission of persons to this country as dependants of immigrants already here; and how many such immigrants have been admitted since the passing of the Act.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD DERWENT)My Lords, the Act itself gives a right of admission to the wife, or the child under 16 years of age, of a Commonwealth citizen who is resident in the United Kingdom or with whom she or he enters the United Kingdom. This provision accounts for the majority of the 46,776 Commonwealth citizens admitted as dependants between July 1, 1962, when the relevant Part of the Act came into force, and the end of May, 1964. The admission of other dependants is governed by the Instructions to Immigration Officers, which, in draft form, were laid before your Lordships' House during the passage of the Bill. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary watches closely the operation of these instructions.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, may I thank the Minister for his reply to my Question and ask him another? Am I right in assuming that the words "wife and child under 16" cover the polygamous wives of Mohammedan citizens and their children, and are they also held to cover concubines and children born in concubinage, which we know is wide- 504 spread in the West Indies and is more or less socially recognised there?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, the word "wife" includes a Common Law wife. I think that answers the noble Lord's problem.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, it is here that it seemed that the Act might be difficult to administer. There have been charges of fraudulent applicants in the Press. Is it in fact easy, in the case of a polygamous wife or concubine, to establish that she is not the genuine dependent which she is represented to be?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I am informed that the difficulty is not nearly so great as the noble Lord may imagine.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend what proof is required from these people that they are dependants?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I should prefer not to answer that question; it would be a fairly lengthy Answer. But there are such things as marriage certificates and, in the case of Common Law wives, which is largely a West Indian question, I understand that the West Indies authorities check their claims before they come over.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, I am not so much concerned with West Indian problems, but those of us who have lived in the East know that the certificates are very easily obtainable.
THE LORD BISHOP OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Lord two questions. First, will he make it clear that it is the Government's policy, where possible, to invite whole families to come over together and that families are welcome, and even preferred to individuals where the rest of the family are not able to come? Secondly, I believe there are cases in which parents in this country, who send for their children from the West Indies, find themselves unable to afford the passage money until the child has passed the age of 18, and then they require a permit, which they are unable to obtain at certain times. Is it possible for parents to register their intention of bringing over their children even before they are 18 and then send for them whenever their financial means make it possible?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, the second part of the right reverend Prelate's question is really a different question, and I prefer not to answer it to-day. As regards dependants under 16, parents have the right to bring their children into this country. As regards those between 16 and 18, we normally readily admit such children if the parents are here. Speaking generally, if Commonwealth citizens come to settle and work here, it is preferable that they should send for their families. A chief constable to whom I was talking the other day, and who has this problem very much on his hands, says that matters have been much easier since their families have joined the men.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether further consideration has been given to giving immigrants a medical examination on arrival, not with a view to sending them back if they are found to be suffering from some disease, but with a view to instituting treatment immediately they arrive?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, certain matters in this connection are still under discussion. If the noble Lady would like an Answer, perhaps she would put a Question down in a few weeks' time, and then I may be able to give her a fuller answer than I can give her to-day.