HC Deb 18 November 1963 vol 684 cc48-51W
Mr. Renton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, consequent upon the undertaking given to the House on 6th February, 1962, he is in a position to give any information about the number of immigrants from the Irish Republic in receipt of National Assistance.

Mr. Wood

A special sample survey in November, 1962, showed that out of nearly 2,000,000 persons then receiving National Assistance, only some 3,000 or 4,000 appeared to be citizens of the Irish Republic who had come here at any time during the previous six years.

(1) ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARRIVED FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC IN 1960 AND 1961 AND ENTERED INSURANCE IN GREAT BRITAIN, ANALYSED BY SEX AND, FOR WOMEN, MARITAL STATUS
All Persons Men Married Women Other Women
1960
Total 67,020 44,700 3,880 18,440
New registrations 51,260 33,460 2,950 14,850
Re-registrations 15,760 11,240 930 3,590
1961
Total 62,290 40,480 2,870 18,940
New registrations 47,330 30,190 2,340 15,430
Re-registrations 14,330 10,290 530 3,510

(2) ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PERSONS(a) FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC WHO ENTERED GREAT BRITAIN TN 1960 AND IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1961 AND REGISTERED FOR NATIONAL INSURANCE ANALYSED ACCORDING TO THEIR LOCATION ABOUT ONE YEAR AND, WHERE KNOWN, TWO YEARS(b) AFTER ENTRY
All persons Position about one year after entry,with position about two years after entry, where known, in brackets(b)
In Great Britain(c) Known to have returned to Irish Republic(d) Presumed to have returned to Irish Republic(e)
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
1960 67,020 57.6 11.8 30.6
1st quarter 15,490 61.2 10.6 28.2
(53.7) (8.4) (37.8)
2nd quarter 16,130 56.5 13.6 29.9
(47.7) (10.4) (41.8)
3rd quarter 23,030 55.9 13.1 31 0
4th quarter 12,370 57.8 8.6 33.6
1961
1st quarter 15,190 59.5 11.3 29.2
2nd quarter 17,150 55.1 11.5 33.4
(a) First arrivals and re-entrants.
(b) The period is one year (two years) plus or minus up to 7 weeks.
(c) Contribution paid or credited for last week of relevant period after arrival or at some time in the succeeding 15 weeks.
(d) Return to Irish Republic noted on insurance records. Some persons noted as returning in the first year came back to Great Britain during the second year. Such persons are counted once only in this table.
(e) No stamp or credit for last week of relevant period after arrival, or at any time in the following 15 weeks.

Mr. Renton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether information has now been obtained from the records of his Department about the number of persons from the Irish Republic coming to this country for employment, and the length of their stay in Great Britain.

Mr. Wood

A detailed analysis has been made of 10 per cent. of the National Insurance records of persons who arrived in this country from the Irish Republic in 1960 and 1961. The results so far available are summarised in the following tables:

(3) ESTIMATED AGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC WHO ENTERED GREAT BRITAIN IN 1960 AND 1961 AND REGISTERED FOR NATIONAL INSURANCE
Number of persons Age in years at end of year of entry into Great Britain
15–19 20–24 25–44 45–59 (Men) 45–54 (Women) 60+ (Men)55 + (Women) Not known
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
1960
All persons who registered or re-registered 67,020 25.2 36.9 29.6 7.0 1.1 0.1
Men 44,700 19.1 38-3 33.1 8.4 1.0 0.1
Married women 3,880 5.7 25-5 49.2 15.2 4.1 0.3
Other women 18,440 44.3 360 17.1 1.7 0.8 0.1
1961
All persons who registered or re-registered 62,290 27.3 34.8 29.3 7.4 1.0 0.2
Men 40,480 20.3 36.3 33.4 9.0 0.7 0.2
Married women 2,870 5.2 23.7 48.8 18.1 4.2
Other women 18,940 44.4 33.8 17.4 2.3 1.0 0.1