HL Deb 22 July 1970 vol 311 cc972-4
LORD BROCKWAY

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 whether they are considering participation in a conference of representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, India and Pakistan to seek a settlement of the problem of Asians with British citizenship in East Africa.]

LORD BETHELL

My Lords, I am not aware that such a conference has been arranged. Her Majesty's Government have not received any notification of this, or an invitation to participate.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether Her Majesty's Government will take the initiative in this matter? Is it not the case that it is our country which has to face the problems of British citizens to whom we are refusing admission, and have there not been indications by India and by East African countries that they would welcome a discussion of this kind? Even if there could not be a conference, could there not be discussions between the High Commissioners of these different territories?

LORD BETHELL

My Lords, one cannot rule out the possibility of any form of discussion, either between Ministers in the form of a conference, or between High Commissioners. But at the moment, as the noble Lord and the House will be aware, there is legislation on Commonwealth immigration to be introduced, and it would really be "jumping the gun" for any conference to take place at this particular time.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, would it not be much better to have consultation before the legislation is brought in, rather than afterwards?

LORD BETHELL

My Lords, it would be wrong to assume that there is no consultation. Consultation goes on all the time on this matter.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, would it be possible for the House to have a statement as to the form which the consultation is taking before the legislation comes forward?

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, may I ask a question supplementary to that of the noble Lord, Lord Byers? Will the Government consider publishing a White Paper giving the historic background to this problem, which is of great sensitiveness, complication and difficulty, and which can be understood only against its historic background, with which not every Member, including myself, is fully familiar?

LORD BETHELL

My Lords, I shall bear in mind the suggestion of my noble friend about a White Paper. As to the suggestion of the noble Lord, Lord Byers, there are consultations. It is not possible at the moment to give details of what is proposed, but I can tell the noble Lord and the House that the Government are not happy with the present situation. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is giving this matter his special personal attention, and we hope soon to find some improvement in it.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that: this is a matter which goes well beyond the responsibilities of the Home Secretary? Of the Asians in East Africa, I think half were born in India; and would it not be sensible, before public pronouncements are made on the legislation which the Government have in mind, for all the countries concerned in this very difficult problem to be brought together to discuss to see whether they can help each other to overcome the tremendous hardships which exist in East Africa?

LORD BETHELL

My Lords, I take the noble Lord's point that consultations between the countries concerned are essential. What the Government are not convinced of is that a conference is the best way to bring about the desired result.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that his statement that the forthcoming legislation is to deal with British citizens holding British passports has surprised a good many of us; and if this is the case, is it not still more important that there should be discussions with the territories which are concerned in that policy?

LORD BETHELL

My Lords, as I have already said, there will be discussions.