§ Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Mr. C. Dass and his family came to this country from Kenya; the amount of public money spent in supporting both him and his family during the last few years, and the present situation with regard to this man; what system exists for dealing with immigrants from British Dependencies for whose maintenance no provision exists; and the total cost since 1945 of providing such maintenance.
§ Mr. LytteltonMr. Charan Dass arrived in the United Kingdom from East Africa in 1949 of his own free will. While here he was declared a prohibited immigrant by the Government of Kenya, under the Immigration Control Ordinance of 1948. His wife and children followed him to the United Kingdom at intervals throughout 1950.
As regards the assistance received by this family, Mr. Dass is at present being prosecuted by the National Assistance Board for failing to maintain himself and his dependants and the House will not expect me to comment further on a case that is sub judice.
No special provision exists for immigrants from the Commonwealth, who, if in need, are entitled to seek assistance under the National Assistance Act in the same way as other residents of the United 204W Kingdom. It is, therefore, impossible to estimate the cost of their maintenance since 1945.