HL Deb 12 July 1967 vol 284 cc1125-6

2.46 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 Commonwealth immigrants, at the last available date, had been unemployed for twelve months or more.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND (LORD HUGHES)

My Lords, I regret that this information is not available.

LORD ELTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether it ever will be available?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I doubt it very much. Commonwealth immigrants admitted to the United Kingdom for the purpose of employment are not subject to any restriction and are treated in exactly the same way as people born in this country. The collection of separate employment and unemployment statistics for them has been avoided as savouring of discrimination.

LORD ELTON

But, my Lords, is it not the case that the total figures of Commonwealth immigrants unemployed, as distinct from the figures of those unemployed for a year or more, are known and have been published? Is that, then, not discrimination?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I do not think I can usefully add to the information I have already given.

LORD BROOKE OF CUMNOR

My Lords, I wonder whether the noble Lord will make further inquiries about this, because certainly up to three years ago, to my certain knowledge, the Ministry of Labour possessed figures showing the total number of Commonwealth immigrants who were unemployed. Has the collection of that information been given up?

LORD HUGHES

No, my Lords. There is information, but not of the character asked for. What is done—and I think that this is what the noble Lord is referring to—is that a monthly count is made of those adult Commonwealth immigrants who entered this country after 1956 and who are registered as unemployed, so far as this can be done by visual observation and from their employment records. The detailed figures of Commonwealth immigrants unemployed on June 12, 1967, are in a table which I do not think it would serve a useful purpose to publish. However, the total figure was 15,987, and this was 3.2 per cent. of all adults unemployed at the same date. The corresponding figures for the previous twelve months are available, and these vary between 2.2 per cent. and the current 3.2 per cent., which is a provisional figure.