HC Deb 28 October 1965 vol 718 cc90-1W
Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the machinery of appeal against a deportation order by any Commonwealth immigrant; and to what extent this machinery will be adversely affected or nullified within the terms of the White Paper on immigration.

Sir F. Soskice

At present, a Commonwealth citizen may be deported only on the recommendation of a court after being convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment; and the offender may appeal to a higher court against the recommendation. The Government do not propose to alter these provisions but intend to seek a new power to repatriate, without a court recommendation, Commonwealth citizens who evade or seek to evade the immigration control. It is proposed that any of these who have been lawfully resident in the United Kingdom for more than six months should have the opportunity to make representations to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many protests he has received against the terms of the White Paper on immigration, and how many letters of support; and if he will name the Organisations concerned in each case.

Sir F. Soskice

Up to 22nd October, I had received only 55 letters and resolutions which referred to the White Paper. Of these, 43 were from individuals, 27 supporting the Government's policy and 16 critical of it. Of the remaining 12, all mainly critical of the White Paper, 6 were from constituency Labour Parties; 1 from the Independent Labour Party; 1 from a borough council; and 4 from local organisations with a particular interest in immigrants and race relations.

Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the restrictions on immigrants, outlined in the White Paper on immigration, will apply in full to all white immigrants, including the requirements to register with the police.

Sir F. Soskice

The new measures of immigration control proposed in the White Paper, including the discretionary power to require registration with the police, are, like the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, to apply to the citizens of all other Commonwealth countries and territories.

CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
July December, 1962 1963 1964 January September, 1965
1. Total number admitted … … … 98,883 187,567 212,739 199,933
2. Total number embarked … … … 105,065 178,616 199,357 186,147
3. Net balance (i.e. the difference between 1 and 2) … … … … … -6,182 8,951 13,382 13,786
4. Holders of Ministry of Labour vouchers admitted … … … … … 904 1,447 817 593
5. Ministry of Labour voucher holders as a percentage of total admitted … … per cent. 0.91 per cent. 0.77 per cent. 0.38 per cent. 0.30