IMMIGRANTS AND THE LAW (Hansard, 4 July 1967)

§ LORD SOMERS
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)
My Lords, the Government, local authorities and voluntary organisations make every effort to help immigrants to a full understanding of their civic rights and responsibilities under our law. But the civil and criminal law of this country differs in many respects from that of other Commonwealth countries, and this can be fully understood only by the process of education in its widest sense.

§ LORD SOMERS
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Would he tell me whether I am right in believing that the Government turn a kindly eye—a kindly blind eye, shall I say?—upon the question of bigamy, provided that it is not committed in this country? Would he also tell me whether any organisation exists, such as I believe exists in the United States, for instructing immigrants who come into this country on the general principles and standards of Western civilisation?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right. Polygamous marriages cannot be contracted in this country, but a polygamous marriage contracted overseas may, in certain circumstances, be valid under our law, and a 488 legal wife, even if the marriage was polygamous, is entitled, under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, to be admitted to the United Kingdom if her husband is resident here.
So far as the second part of the noble Lord's question is concerned, we issue a leaflet, Introduction to Britain, which in very simple language gives Commonwealth immigrants information on such matters as housing, health, choosing a doctor or dentist, education, courses for adults, employment, entry of dependants, exchange control, elections, income tax, and the weather. The leaflet says: Britain is often cold and wet; make sure you travel with enough warm clothes to keep you warm. The English version of that leaflet has been given wide distribution here and overseas, and versions in five Asian languages and in Greek are expected to be ready in a few weeks' time. There are also all sorts of organisations apart from the Government, including 52 voluntary liaison committees in areas where immigrants live, and the police are associated with most of them. This service is increasing. In a great many things, including observance of the law, Commonwealth immigrants show an awareness of the law which is at least equal to that of the native population.

§ LORD LEATHERLAND
My Lords, have the voluntary liaison committees which my noble friend mentioned any connection with this question of polygamy? Furthermore, inasmuch as a man with four wives is entitled to bring them all here, is that something which the Government countenance?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, the question of polygamy would be one of the things with which the voluntary liaison committees would be concerned, because they would advise an immigrant that polygamous marriages contracted in this country are illegal. With regard to the position overseas, we are concerned with the question of whether a second wife is a legal wife; and the question of whether the marriage would be valid under our law is a matter that only the courts can decide. But our understanding is that the marriage would probably be recognised as valid under our law if, and not recognised as valid unless, it was one 489 which each of the parties had the capacity of contracting under the law of his or her domicile. So far as four wives are concerned, in our experience to date we have had only cases where one wife has come over with her husband and a second legal wife has been admitted afterwards.

LORD HAWKE
My Lords, in future issues of the pamphlet would the noble Lord explain to Asiatic immigrants that it is an old English custom that the majority of Britons pay their income tax when they are required to do so?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, as I mentioned in my reply to the noble Lord, Lord Somers, this is one of the things to which we devote quite a good deal of time and literature in explaining the position to Commonwealth immigrants. Sometimes they think they are exempt, but they are speedily undeceived in this matter, as indeed we all are.

§ LORD ELTON
My Lords, I was not quite clear on one point. Is any of this information, or much of this information, available to prospective immigrants before they start coming overseas, so that, for example, an immigrant who expects to claim exemption in respect of dependants who have remained behind would know that it would be wise to equip himself with reliable evidence that such persons exist?

§ LORD STONHAM
Yes, my Lords; we take all possible steps to disseminate leaflets of this kind, and that is one of the reasons why we are having them printed and distributed in seven different languages used by the immigrants. We also convey the fullest possible information we can about dependants. Of course, although we cannot insist at present, we do use entry certificates for that purpose, and we insist that voucher holders name their dependants. When they are over here and claim income tax allowances in respect of dependants still overseas, we go to the greatest possible length to ensure that those claims are genuine.