HL Deb 09 April 1968 vol 291 cc161-2
LORD ELTON

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the appropriate Minister will receive a deputation from the London and Counties Tenants' Federation in order that it may make representations as to the hardships suffered by native tenants and houseowners as a result of immigration.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has not been asked by the Federation to receive a deputation on these matters, but he knows that his right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs was asked to receive one and declined. The Federation sent a report to the Home Office at the end of January. The views expressed in that report had already been made known by the Federation in a number of letters to the Home Office and at a meeting with officers of that Department last October. Having seen the report, my right honourable friend is satisfied that no useful purpose would be served if he agreed to receive a deputation from the Federation.

LORD ELTON

My Lords, while I thank the noble Lord for that reply, which I think is reasonable, does he nevertheless not think that, particularly at a time when the Government are about to redress some of the undoubted grievances of immigrants in respect of housing, it might have a useful effect on public opinion if the Government were at pains, and known to be at pains, to acquaint themselves with the equally undoubted grievances of some of the native population?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, the Government are fully acquainted with the grievances of tenants of both colours, and with the grievances of landlords of both colours and of all shades in between.

BARONESS GAITSKELL

My Lords, would not the Minister agree that immigrants help to build far more houses than they could ever possibly hope to acquire for themselves, and these houses are for the native people of Britain?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I would not be willing to endorse the precise calculations upon which the noble Baroness has based her supplementary question, but it certainly is a fact that immigrants help to build houses.

BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEY

My Lords, would not the Minister agree that although, of course, a sudden pressure of immigrants is undesirable, in that it increases our difficulties on every side, once the immigrants are here and are working they are contributing by means of income tax and ordinary taxation in regard to health, and so on, to the, social services which are being provided? In other words they share in the expenses.

LORD KENNET

Yes, my Lords.

LORD HUNT

My Lords, would not the Minister agree that a deputation such as that suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Elton, would be more to the point if it were to meet with their coloured neighbours and, instead of making complaints, were to offer their help to their less fortunate neighbours?

LORD KENNET

Again, the answer is, Yes, my Lords.