§ LORD O'HAGANMy 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 have used their influence to try and persuade the Governments of Australia and Canada to admit Kenyans of Asian origin as permanent settlers.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, I assume that when the noble Lord refers to Kenyans of Asian origin he does in fact mean United Kingdom citizens of Asian origin living in Kenya. Her Majesty's Government have made no representations to the Governments of Australia and Canada about admitting these people to those countries.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, in view of the problems that we all know these people have been facing, can the Minister say whether he is satisfied that the procedures for admission initiated by the 1968 Act are enough, and whether he feels that we all ought to do anything we can to help Kenya Asians who are British subjects to find somewhere to live?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government take the view that the responsibility for United Kingdom citizens is that of the United Kingdom and of Her Majesty's Government, and mat the immigration policies of Australia and Canada are an internal matter. As to whether we are doing enough, as I said to the noble Lord 1404 yesterday we have problems, we are seeking time in order to put those problems right and we hope that those in Kenya will await their turn.