HL Deb 18 February 1971 vol 315 cc703-5
LORD WADE

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 have any statement to make on the recent allegations of illegal entry into Britain of immigrants travelling via West Germany and other European countries.]

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are in continuous contact with the Governments of the countries concerned, and my right honourable friend is in close touch with the police, who have recently reviewed their arrangements for dealing with illegal immigration.

LORD WADE

My Lords, I am obliged for that information. Is the noble Lord aware that the reports of these activities are unfortunately having an adverse effect on community relations in this country and that many members of our immigrant communities, especially those who are doing valuable work in the field of community relations, would be only too pleased to see this international racket stopped? Secondly, is the noble Lord satisfied that Britain is receiving all possible help from other countries, including European countries, in order to seek out the real culprits who are organising this racket?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, I recognise the adverse effect that illegal immigration can have on community relations in this country, and I should like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the personal contribution that the noble Lord, Lord Wade, has made in his capacity as chairman of the Yorkshire Committee for Community Relations. The Government agree that the fear that uncontrolled immigration is taking place on a large scale can lead to apprehension and to a possible deterioration in relations between different communities already established here; and I welcome this Question as an occasion to repeat that the Government are concerned with this issue and are taking every possible step under the present law to detect and apprehend anyone attempting to enter this country illegally.

LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, can the noble Lord give any indication as to the number of illegal immigrants who have been deported over the past year?

LORD WINDLESHAM

Yes, my Lords: 98 illegal immigrants were detected in Great Britain in 1970, and almost all of those will have been deported. Some are retained in order to give evidence in criminal proceedings. Noble Lords will remember the case of the 40 illegal immigrants who were discovered in a cellar in Bradford last summer. The organisers of this conspiracy to contravene the Commonwealth Immigrants Act were subsequently sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 15 months to 7 years.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, can the noble Lord say what happens when such a person makes an application for insurance registration? What investigation takes place as to whether or not he is entitled to register?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, the noble Lord is referring to National Insurance?

LORD PARGITER

Yes.

LORD WINDLESHAM

I must ask the noble Lord to put down another Question on that subject. I could give him an Answer, but this is a technical subject and I think we should discuss it separately.

LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord a further supplementary? He quoted the figure of 98. What proportion does that figure represent of the number of immigrants who are considered to have entered this country illegally?

LORD WINDLESHAM

There is no way of estimating that figure, my Lords.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord how many of the 98 are actually British citizens?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, the noble Lord is caught in a familiar confusion, I fear, between British subjects and citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

LORD BROCKWAY

I am asking about those who are British citizens with British passports who are British Asians from East Africa.

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, none of the 98 to whom I have referred would come in that category.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether there is any truth in the article which appeared in the Press recently to the effect that some Pakistanis illegally entered this country by helicopter at night? Is that an extension of illegal immigration—by air instead of by sea?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, I would not be able to comment on any Press report without notice.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, if the 98 were all illegal immigrants, as the noble Lord described them, would not 100 per cent. of them be subject to deportation proceedings?

LORD WINDLESHAM

Yes, my Lords. What I said was that I do not have the exact figures, but almost all of the persons concerned will have been deported. I know that there have been one or two instances where illegal immigrants have been required as witnesses—the Bradford case, for example, where I think two were required—in subsequent proceedings against the organisers.