§ Sir J. Fletcher-Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is aware that a number of United Kingdom companies, operating in countries which are Members of the Commonwealth and in non-self-governing territories for which the United Kingdom has responsibility, are experiencing difficulties in obtaining work permits overseas for essential members of their staffs; whether, in formulating Her Majesty's Government's Commonwealth immigration policy, he will seek to provide for a measure of reciprocity in this matter; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BottomleyI am aware that particularly in countries where the Governments are anxious to increase employment opportunities for their own nationals, United Kingdom companies do have difficulties in some cases in obtaining work permits for United Kingdom citizens they wish to employ overseas. It would not be practicable, however, to vary our own immigration policy in relation to the immigration policies pursued by other countries. We must formulate our immigration policy in the light of our own requirements and of our capacity to absorb new immigrants.