Commonwealth Immigrants (Hansard, 23 March 1964)

§ 56. Sir C. Osborne
asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the decision of this House of 16th March regarding the human problems caused by redundancy in a period of technological change, and of the lessened demand for unskilled labour as a result of the technological revolution, if he will reconsider his decision regarding the issue of work permits to all unskilled, unemployed, intending immigrants for the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Godber
No. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on the 9th March, the employment situation is one of the factors taken into account in determining the number of vouchers issued. It would not be right to stop altogether the issue of vouchers to Commonwealth citizens who have no specific jobs to come to and who do not possess special qualifications or skill.

§ 57. Sir C. Osborne
asked the Minister of Labour how many work permits he issued last year to intending unskilled Commonwealth immigrants with no guaranteed job in this country; what has been the total number issued to date; what is Her Majesty's Government's present policy on the number of these immigrants to be admitted, in view of the threat of unemployment as a result of automation, of the housing shortage, and of other social it problems; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Godber
During 1963 vouchers were issued to 22,652 category C applicants, i.e. those who had no specific job to come to and who did not possess the special qualifications or skills recognised for priority. The total number of such vouchers issued up to 28th February, 1964, was 41,130. The number of 15W vouchers to be issued is reviewed from time to time in the light of the housing position, the employment situation, and all other relevant factors. The numbers of vouchers issued in category C will depend in part on the number of applications in categories A and B, which receive priority.

§ 58. Mr. N. Pannell
asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for work permits he has now received under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act; how many of these have been, respectively, for those with jobs to come to, those with special skills, and those with neither of these qualifications; how many have been granted in each category; and how many vouchers in all have lapsed.

§ Mr. Godber
Up to 28th February, 1964, a total of 382,777 applications for vouchers had been received. Of these, 19,848 were for persons with jobs to come

Employment Exchange and Associated Youth Employment Office Men Boys Women Girls Total Percentage

Airdire … … … 622 18 450 18 1,108 5.4^*

Coatbridge … … … 852 59 648 21 1,580

Wishaw … … … 517 28 341 17 903

Shotts … … … 247 18 174 8 447 6.7

Springburn … … … 2,821 217 655 73 3,766 4.9†

^* This percentage is for the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work group which also includes Motherwell, Bellshill, Blantyre, Cambuslang, Carluke, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Larkhall and Uddingston Employment Exchanges.

† This percentage is for the Glasgow travel-to-work group which also includes Glasgow (Central), Glasgow (South Side), Barrhead, Bridgeton, Clydebank, Govan, Hillington, Kinning Park, Kirkintilloch, Maryhill, Parkhead Partick and Rutherglen Employment Exchanges.

Employment Exchange and Associated Youth Employment Office	Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Percentage
Airdire	…	…	…	622	18	450	18	1,108	5.4^*
Coatbridge	…	…	…	852	59	648	21	1,580
Wishaw	…	…	…	517	28	341	17	903
Shotts	…	…	…	247	18	174	8	447	6.7
Springburn	…	…	…	2,821	217	655	73	3,766	4.9†
^* This percentage is for the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work group which also includes Motherwell, Bellshill, Blantyre, Cambuslang, Carluke, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Larkhall and Uddingston Employment Exchanges.
† This percentage is for the Glasgow travel-to-work group which also includes Glasgow (Central), Glasgow (South Side), Barrhead, Bridgeton, Clydebank, Govan, Hillington, Kinning Park, Kirkintilloch, Maryhill, Parkhead Partick and Rutherglen Employment Exchanges.