HC Deb 23 October 1946 vol 427 cc405-6W
Mr. Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far, and under what conditions, he permits immigration of foreign husbands of British girls, foreigners who served in His Majesty's forces, the Merchant Navy and Allied Forces based in this country and desirable ex-prisoners of war who wish to return.

Mr. Ede

Subject to exceptions which it may be proper to make for special reasons personal to an individual, the general policy of His Majesty's Government is as follows:

(1) Foreigners who, while they were in the United Kingdom during the war, married British women are admitted provided that they satisfy me that they are desirable immigrants.

(2) Foreigners who have served in His Majesty's forces on British service engagements may now be discharged in this country. Those already discharged abroad receive special consideration if they apply for visa facilities to return here.

(3) Foreign members of the British Merchant Navy Reserve Pool who are not resident in this country are allowed to continue to serve in British ships but not, as a rule, to take shore employment.

(4) While I am prepared to give members of Allied forces special consideration if they have genuine ties with this country (for instance, if they have married British women), I do not regard the fact that for operational reasons these forces were based on this country as in itself giving them a stronger claim to be allowed to settle here than their civilian compatriots.

(5) I do not regard as having any special claim to admission for settlement here persons whose only qualification is that they were captured in arms against this country and happened to be brought here for detention.