§ 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 whether Hussein Sharif, an Asian of British citizenship, who on November 22 was found guilty at Kampala, Uganda, of selling food above the maximum price, and ordered to be deported to the United Kingdom, has been admitted to this country.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)Yes, my Lords.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it not an extraordinary situation that a British citizen in Uganda who commits a crime can be admitted to this country, while the hundreds of British citizens who are lawful, and are in a state of destitution, are unable to get here? Is this not an encouragement to commit crimes?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, most holders of United Kingdom passports who are given notice to leave their countries of residence in East Africa are not deported. They are given priority in the waiting list for special vouchers, and make their own arrangements for travel when they receive a voucher.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, was not this individual deported almost immediately?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, as I have explained, very few people are deported following conviction in the courts. This is the first case from Uganda 586 this year, and there were only two last year.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is not the Minister in consultation with the Government of Uganda about this precedent?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, we remain in close touch with the Governments of Kenya and Uganda over the situation of United Kingdom passport holders as a whole, as I think the noble Lord knows.