§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 reply has been given to the requests by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and the United Kingdom Citizenship Committee for financial help in setting up advisory centres in Commonwealth countries to assist immigrants' dependants in applying for entry certificates and in lodging appeals.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has these requests under consideration, but I regret that I am not yet able to announce a decision.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, have not these new arrangements now been in operation for a month; and while the situation at Heathrow and places affected in this country is much easier, is not the position in the Commonwealth places of departure much worse, with crowds waiting for immigrant permits? In view of that fact, is it not very desirable that financial assistance should be given, as the Home Office have said it would be, to the organisations prepared to give advice and help?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, on the question of the desirability of giving financial assistance, I made a Statement on behalf of the Government on May 13 1020 on that point and that remains the position. The details of the applications which have been put forward are being considered and I hope that a decision will be reached in the next week or so.
§ LORD BROCKWAYYes, my Lords, but this has been going on for months. Are not the conditions now prevailing at Karachi and other Commonwealth ports of departure just appalling? And is it not very necessary that when the Government make these new regulations they should make arrangements under which they can be carried out humanely?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, according to my information, the Pakistan authorities say that so far there has been no difference arising from the new regulations. The Indian authorities say that the numbers coming over are fewer because people are arriving at the departure ports without papers, or without valid papers, and therefore there is this delay. That was inevitable initially, but I repeat that the J.C.W.I. have asked for the provision of advisory services covering Indian, Pakistan, the West Indies and Guyana, with offices also in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. The Committee for United Kingdom Citizenship have submitted estimates for the provision of advisory services with offices in London, Nairobi, Kampala and Bombay. There are many matters for considered decision. We are aware of the sense of urgency the welfare authorities feel, but I do not think that even the space of four weeks is an inordinate time to go into the details and settle them.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, was not it unwise to initiate this scheme before arrangements had been made by which Commonwealth immigrants could have this advice; and does not the situation in India illustrate that when they are many miles away from the High Commissioner's Office it is impossible for them to make the arrangements by which they can in any human way obtain these permits?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I think my noble friend ought to agree with me that it would have been even more disastrous had we announced this change and not implemented it at once. Our experience in East Africa must surely have convinced us of that. I am aware 1021 also of what my noble friend said about the conditions which existed prior to the new arrangements. We have looked into that situation and found that there are a number of reasons for it which relate to the particular circumstances and the particular views of the people there. They are not really a matter for Her Majesty's Government.