§ 37. Mr. D. Footasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Mr. John Williams and his family, who had left South Africa because of their dislike of racial prejudice, were refused permission to enter this country; and by what authority this decision was taken.
§ 38. Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the refusal of permission to enter this country to Mr. John Williams and his family, who arrived at Southampton from South Africa on Thursday 26th March.
§ 39. Mr. Wadeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the regulations under which Mr. John Williams and his family were refused permission to enter this country on 26th March, 1964, in order to ensure that criteria are established for the granting of exceptions in special cases.
§ Miss PikeOn arrival at Southampton on 26th March with his wife and five sons, Mr. Williams claimed that the family were holiday visitors but later admitted that they had come to settle here permanently and that he and two of his sons wished to take employment. No member of the family held a Ministry of Labour work permit. Mr. Williams is too old to qualify for such a permit, and four of his sons are too young. No accommodation had been arranged and the funds at Mr. Williams' disposal would not have enabled him to maintain his family. In the circumstances the family were, in accordance with normal policy, refused leave to land. The control of immigration is, of course, sufficiently flexible to enable exceptions to be made where appropriate; but there were no special circumstances in the case of the Williams family to justify exceptional treatment.
§ Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases during the last year permission to enter this country has been refused to South Africans arriving at Southampton.
§ Miss PikeIn addition to Mr. John Williams and his family, four other South African nationals were refused232W leave to land at Southampton during the twelve months ended 31St March, 1964
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if Mr. and Mrs. John Williams and their family will now be permitted to enter this country.