HL Deb 13 May 1964 vol 258 cc235-6

2.56 p.m.

LORD ELTON

My 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 how many employment vouchers, according to the latest available figures, have been issued to immigrant applicants classified in Category C, that is as without prospective jobs, skill or special qualifications, since the passage of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act; and whether they can indicate what proportions of these persons are now employed.]

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT BLAKENHAM)

My Lords, up to April 24, 1964, a total of 41,798 vouchers had been issued to applicants in Category C. I regret that statistics of Commonwealth immigrants in employment, and of unemployed Commonwealth immigrants by category of voucher, are not available. On April 13, 1964, the number of Commonwealth immigrants unemployed, including all categories and arrivals both before and after the institution of control, was 12,540. This compares with a figure of 37,372 unemployed Commonwealth immigrants when control started in July, 1962.

LORD ELTON

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that, on the whole, unexpectedly satisfactory Answer, but may I ask him one other question? As he knows, although the totals of unemployment are fortunately low, in certain areas the immigrants' share of them is unfortunately high. Does the noble Viscount not think that as in Southall, for example, last February out of 171 unemployed persons 144 were immigrants, it would be of considerable significance to have some exact information as to what proportion of these were holders of Category C vouchers and arrived here without prospective jobs or special gratifications—in addition, of course, to those who must have arrived before the Act of 1962? Indeed, is not such information something like essential for the guidance of those who are issuing the vouchers?

VISCOUNT BLAKENHAM

My Lords, I think my noble friend is right and these figures are concentrated in certain areas. But it is—I am glad he has noted the fact—satisfactory that the figure of unemployment is about one-third of what it was in July, 1962. I think I can also tell my noble friend that the pressure of demand on the A and B categories, the skilled and those who have jobs to go to, is such that it is making the issue of C vouchers very much smaller than it was.

LORD ELTON

I thank the noble Viscount.