HC Deb 13 February 1964 vol 689 cc100-3W
59. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons came to the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland, India, Pakistan and the West Indies, and how many from other parts of the Common. wealth in the years 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively; and how many of them, in each case, came to seek employment, or as students, or relatives of persons already resident in the United Kingdom, or visitors or for any other reason.

Mr. Brooke

Since 1st July, 1962, when Part I of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, came into force, comprehensive statistics for all persons subject to immigration control under the Act have been maintained. Tables I and II give the relevant statistics for the periods 1st July, 1962, to 31st December, 1962, and 1st January, 1963, to 31st December, 1963, respectively. It is not possible to give comparable figures for previous years, as it was necessary up to 30th June, 1962, to rely upon estimates of the number of Commonwealth citizens passing through the ports, and information is not available about their reasons for coming. Table III gives such information as is available about the net immigration from the Commonwealth in the period 1st January, 1959, to 30th June, 1962.

TABLE I
1ST JULY, 1962–31ST DECEMBER, 1962
Territory Holders of Ministry of Labour vouchers Students Dependants accom-or coming to join the head of the household, and other persons coming for settlement Others (mainly visitors and "returning residents") Admitted (Total of columns (1)—(4)) Embarked Net Balance
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
India … 646 1,529 2,210 14,327 18,712 15,662 +3,050
Pakistan … 391 707 735 4,954 6,787 6,924 -137
West Indies* … 1,600 1,404 5,404 7,354 15,762 12,521 +3,241
All other overseas Commonwealth territories … 2,484 8,956 5,344 125,371 142,155 145,806 -3,651
Totals … 5,121 12,596 13,693 152,006 183,416 180,913 +2,503

TABLE II
1ST JANUARY, 1963–31ST DECEMBER, 1963
Territory Holders of Ministry of Labour vouchers Students Dependants accom-or coming to join the head of the household, and other persons coming for settlement Others (mainly visitors and "returning residents") Admitted (Total of columns (1)—(4)) Embarked Net Balance
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
India … 8,366 2,085 7,117 24,541 42,109 24,611 +17,498
Pakistan … 13,526 1,158 3,545 11,344 29,573 13,237 +16,336
West Indies* … 2,077 1,984 9,041 13,984 27,086 19,158 +7,928
All other overseas Commonwealth territories … 6,156 13,257 9,978 237,578 266,969 242,731 +24,238
Totals … 30,125 18,484 29,681 287,447 365,737 299,737 +66,000
* Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Leeward and Windward Islands, and British Guiana.
NOTES:
1. There is no control on traffic between Ireland and Britain.
2. The above figures include persons enjoying diplomatic immunity, who are recorded for statistical purposes although exempt from control under section 17 of the Act.

TABLE III
Estimated net inward movement from 1959 1960 1961 1962 (January-June only)
India … … 2,950 5,900 23,750 19,050
Pakistan … … 850 2,500 25,100 25,080
West Indies* … … 16,400 49,650 66,300 31,800
Other Territories† … … 1,400 -350 21,250 18,970
A minus sign denotes a net outward movement.
* Includes, with the former Federation of the West Indies, British Guiana and British Honduras.
† Excluding Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, or which no estimates are available.

My Department compiles no statistics relating to immigration from the Irish Republic. A special survey of Irish traffic was, however, carried out on behalf of the Home Office in the year ended 2nd September, 1963, and the results were summarised in the reply given to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Renton) on 18th November, 1963. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given on the same date to a further Question by my right hon. and learned Friend about information obtained from the records of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance concerning persons from the Irish Republic entering the United Kingdom for employment.