§ 49. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which countries the majority of the 500,000 Commonwealth citizens who are already entitled to emigrate to this country would come; what are their age and sex groupings; on what grounds they are entitled to come; how many he expects to come and when; in view of anxiety in Great Britain about further large-scale immigration, if he will introduce legislation to prevent this further influx; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir F. SoskiceSection 2(2)(b) of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, gives a right of admission to this country to the wife, or any child under 16 years of age, of a Commonwealth citizen who is resident in the United Kingdom. I have no means of ascertaining how many people now overseas have this right or whether or when they are likely to exercise it; but I do not think they can number less than half a million. Most must be in the West Indies, Pakistan and India. We have no intention of introducing legislation to abrogate the right.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have come to this country since the passing of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act on the grounds that they were coming here to study.
§ Sir F. SoskiceFrom 1st July, 1962, to 28th February, 1965, 53,600 Commonwealth citizens subject to control 269W under Part I of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act were admitted as students.