§ 25. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Labour how many applications have been made for labour permits for immigrants, unskilled and unemployed, to 2W come to this country from India and Pakistan, respectively; in view of the fact that 10 million jobs will be lost in the next five years through automation to British workers, if he will cease issuing altogether immigration permits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GodberUp to 28th February, 1964, applications had been received from 173,664 Indians and 137,470 Pakistanis who had neither the offer of a job in this country nor qualifications or special skills of the types to which priority is given. Whilst I could not accept my hon. Friend's forecast, the employment situation is one of the factors taken into account in determining the number of vouchers issued. I am not prepared to stop issuing vouchers altogether since, as the Government have always made clear, the intention of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act is, not to stop immigration from the Commonwealth, but to control it.