HL Deb 16 February 1965 vol 263 cc394-6

2.51 p.m.

LORD ALPORT

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 whether they will publish, in the form of a comparative table, or in any other convenient form, details of the restrictions on immigration imposed at the present time by each independent member country of the Commonwealth.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)

My Lords, I regret it is not possible for the Government to publish a comparative table or survey of the restrictions on immigration in force in each independent Commonwealth country. Such restrictions are embodied in various Acts of the 19 Commonwealth countries, supplemented by extensive local regulations. To produce a survey would involve the British Government in interpreting Commonwealth legislation and the regulations made under it, for which the Government have no responsibility. I should perhaps add that it is not uncommon for immigration legislation to allow considerable discretion to the authorities concerned.

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether it would not be possible to inquire of the 19 Commonwealth Governments concerned what their interpretation is of their own immigration regulations, and, based on that, to publish this information and make it available in this country, perhaps through the Annual Report of the Overseas Migration Board?

LORD TAYLOR

No, my Lords, I am afraid it would not be possible to do that. Or, rather, it would be possible, but it would be very improper to do it. The immigration policies of the independent Commonwealth countries are their own internal affairs, and it would be wrong for us to ask for information for the purposes of publication.

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Why?

LORD TAYLOR

It would be greatly resented by many Commonwealth countries if we did so. In any event, the practical difficulties are very great, because the situation in each Commonwealth country varies so much. Some are wanting immigrants, some are suffering from unemployment; and to make valid and useful comparisons would be really impossible.

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, I am sorry to pursue this matter, but surely it would not be impossible for a private individual like myself to go to each High Commissioner's office in London in order to inquire what restrictions there might be upon my emigrating to each of the 19 countries concerned. Would that not provide us with at any rate a general idea, which could then be collated by the Government, of what the regulations in fact are?

LORD TAYLOR

It would not be impossible for the noble Lord to do what he suggests. Indeed, he could do something easier: he could consult the relevant legislation, which can be seen in the Library, or can be obtained by the Library, and is of enormous bulk and volume; but the difficulty is that, even then, each Commonwealth Government would consider his case individually, and to generalise from his particular position would therefore be irrelevant.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, are the Government saying that they do not know what general restrictions are imposed by Commonwealth countries; and, if the Government do know what the general restrictions are, as distinct from their application in particular cases, what reason is there for not making it public?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, there are no general restrictions. Restrictions are immensely detailed and vary from country to country, and that is the problem.