HC Deb 02 February 1961 vol 633 cc150-1W
82. Mr. Delargy

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European refugees who are physically handicapped have applied to enter Great Britain during the last three months; and how many have been refused admission.

Mr. Chataway

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees and their families, whose names were submitted through voluntary agencies in Germany and Austria, are to be interviewed by the official mission now on the Continent; and on what basis they were selected.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The names of 1,863 refugees were submitted. Of these, 1,287 who appeared to be qualified for consideration under the selection criteria, which were announced on 10th March last, were included in the final lists of refugees to be interviewed; 21 other applicants who appeared to be eligible for admission to the United Kingdom under normal immigration policy were invited to submit visa applications in the ordinary way.

Of the 1,863 names submitted, 1,123 were of physically handicapped persons or were members of families one of whose members was a physically handicapped person. Of the 575 applicants outside the criteria who were not selected for interview, 284 were in this category.