§ 3.6 p.m.
§ LORD DERWENTMy 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 what are the limits now imposed on the number of immigrants admitted to this country; whether there has been any reduction in the limit since last October, and whether any reduction is proposed.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, the only numerical limit imposed on immigrants is on Commonwealth citizens who come here for employment. The rate of issue of vouchers for this purpose has not changed since October, and is just over 20,000 a year. The Government have the voucher scheme under review.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. Can he give the figures under the different classes for which vouchers are issued—that is to say, "A", "B",
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I cannot give the exact figures, but currently something of the order of 50 per cent. were "A" class vouchers, those for whom employers have asked; about 40 per cent. were "B" class vouchers, the people who have special skills.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it is not 914 the case that these immigrants are proving valuable to the industrial production of this country and to our public services, and that the Prime Minister has given notice that the whole subject of controls will be reviewed at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, with regard to the first part of my noble friend's question, every one of the voucher-holders has his application quite carefully vetted, and indeed they are admitted only because they have a valuable economic contribution to make. As for the second part of my noble friend's question, I think this subject is bound to be discussed.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the Government propose to adopt the eminently reasonable proposal of the leader of the Conservative Party, that dependants should be reckoned in the quota of vouchers issued?
§ LORD STONHAMNo, my Lords. The vouchers are issued for three specific purposes. The first two are directly related to employment; the third category is a general category; and most of those—a small number so far—admitted under Class "C" have a service qualification, in that they have fought for the Commonwealth. If we were to accept the suggestion put forward by the noble Lord, it would mean that we should be including in the numbers admitted for employment people who might never be employed in this country.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, can the noble Lord give any figures showing the number of dependants who have come in in the last year, and the number of students, so that we can have the figures on paper?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, not without notice. In a recent discussion I gave the total numbers admitted for all purposes as something of the order of 60,000. The noble Lord may wish to make his own calculations from that.
§ LORD DERWENTI am grateful to the noble Lord.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, can the noble Lord say, in view of the fact that the word "Conservative" has 915 been imported into the discussion, how many hundreds of thousands of these immigrants came in under the Conservative Government?
§ LORD STONHAMAgain, not without notice. Might I add that on this matter there are so many questions which are completely divorced from Party politics, and on questions of this importance one should have regard to the issues.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, does the noble Lord appreciate that my noble friend put down the Question in search of information, and not with any desire to make political capital out of the attitude of the Party opposite, which, if it had had its way at that time, would have allowed unlimited entry? I should be grateful if the noble Lord could give further information on the figures before the debate on this subject which is to take place shortly in this House. If the noble Lord would undertake that, perhaps we might write to him for any further information.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I accept that the Question was put down to gain information, and that information has been given. I have always been ready to give all the information I can. I shall be very happy, by whatever means the noble and learned Viscount wishes, to arm him with whatever information he requires, which can properly be given, for the debate on March 10.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, does the noble Lord recall that last December The Times newspaper quoted an unnamed Labour Minister as saying that "everybody in British politics" knows that Commonwealth immigration ought to be brought to a stop, at least for a time? And will he seek advice from that unnamed but obviously judicious colleague before this subject is next debated by your Lordships?
§ LORD STONHAMI can only say that that question refers to information which is more than usually suspect among things The Times quotes.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell me the definition under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act of a 916 dependant? How is a dependant defined?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, the definition is, of course, given in the Act, and I think it would be advisable for the noble Viscount to read the Act.