§ 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 they have made to the request of the Action Group on Immigration and Nationality for a review by a Royal Commission of migration policy in Britain.
§ Lord SandysMy Lords, my right honourable friend has replied to the Action Group on Immigration and Nationality to the effect that the Government do not consider that there is a need for such a review of either immigration policy or the way in which it is implemented.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, is it not the case that the series of immigration Acts has been related to immediate circumstances—mostly the coming of non-whites to this country—and that it does not represent an overall policy? Are there not many other considerations than humanitarian: the age of immigrants, their skills, their distribution in the regions, their effect on our economy? Would it not be very desirable that there should be this review which has been supported not only by many interests but by Members of all parties?
§ Lord SandysMy Lords, the noble Lord will be aware that during July 1978 the previous Administration published the report of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration (Cmnd. 7287). The present Administration have policies which are broadly in line with the principles set out on page 4 of that report.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, is it not the case that we have to bear in mind a number of international obligations: the Treaty of Rome, the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations Convention and Protocol on Refugees? Is not our present migration policy in conflict with some of those international obligations? Has the Minister seen that Canada and Australia have had the kind of review for which we are asking and, as a result, have reached conclusions which are acceptable and in agreement with their international obligations?
§ Lord SandysMy Lords, so far as I am aware, none of the present policies is in conflict with our obligations under the various treaties. Turning to the other matter which the noble Lord raised, I think it is true to say that the policy of the present Government is quite clear.
§ Lord Elwyn-JonesMy Lords, is it not the case that there is a considerable difference between the policies enunciated in the present Nationality Bill which is now in another place and the proposals of the previous Administration? In relation to my noble friend's Question, if it appears that we are enmeshed in deep controversies, would not a further review be helpful to try to resolve a highly controversial question?
§ Lord SandysMy Lords, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Elwyn-Jones, is quite right. The Government have made proposals for the revision of the immigration rules: the White Paper, Cmnd. 7750, published in November, 1979. However, my right honourable friend has not yet thought fit to publish the results of the Government's considerations.