§ Mr. Wedgwood Bennasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for permission to enter this country for permanent residence were received from non-British nationals in the years 1945–50; how many were 63W refused; and under what headings the grounds for refusal can be grouped.
§ Mr. EdeNo record is kept of the numbers of applications and refusals for permission to enter this country and I do not think that the labour involved in keeping such a record would be justified.
§ Mr. Wedgwood Bennasked the Secretary for the Home Department what are the rules governing the admission of aliens for permanent residence to the United Kingdom; what general policy determines these rules; and under what statutory authority they are exercised.
§ Mr. EdeAuthority for the control of the admission of foreigners is given by the Aliens Order, 1920, as amended by subsequent orders made under the Aliens Restriction Acts, 1914 and 1919. Subject to compliance with the conditions laid down in Article 1 (3) of the Order, there are no formal rules governing the64W admission of foreigners who may wish to reside here and applications are dealt with on their merits in the light of the general principles which I have announced to the House from time to time. I am sending my right hon. Friend copies of the announcements which I have made about the admission of distressed relatives of persons already living here and certain displaced persons who have been in the care of the International Refugee Organisation.
In addition, it is the practice, subject to individual scrutiny, to allow to remain here, without any limitation of time, husbands of women of British birth and parentage, persons who have been admitted for employment approved by the Ministry of Labour and have continued in approved employment for a number of years, and persons initially admitted for temporary business purposes if their continued stay would be in the national interest.