HC Deb 14 July 1964 vol 698 c202W
60. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what further consultations he has had with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand with a view to ensuring that British migrants have reasonable accommodation and that assisted passages are not granted to British migrants without a guarantee of such accommodation where migrants desire this.

Mr. Sandys

None, Sir, as responsibility for housing immigrants lies fully with the receiving countries. The majority of assisted migrants to Australia are sponsored by relatives or friends in Australia under the Personal Nomination Scheme. It is a condition of this scheme that the sponsor must guarantee accommodation to the intending migrant. The remainder migrate under the Australian Government Nomination Scheme and are guaranteed hostel accommodation for up to two years on arrival, and I am satisfied that the overwhelming majority find accommodation well within their two year period of hostel accommodation.

We have no Assisted Passage Scheme with New Zealand but all British immigrants go to accommodation guaranteed either by their sponsors or by the New Zealand Government.

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