§ 58. Mr. Buckasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain the circumstances in which Azizur Rehman was refused admission to this country; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI am glad to have an opportunity to correct some of the recent reports about this case.
Under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, a Commonwealth citizen may not be refused admission to the United Kingdom if he satisfies the immigration officer that he is the child under 16 years old of a Commonwealth citizen resident here; and "child" includes an adopted child. On 13th April, Azizur Rehman arrived at London Airport in the company of Ghafoor Khan, who was resuming residence here after absence overseas and claimed that Azizur Rehman was under 16 and his son. Azizur Rehman did not have an entry certificate, and after considering all the available evidence the immigration officer was not satisfied that the two were father and son. As Azizur Rehman had no other claim to be admitted, he was refused admission. On 14th April, Ghafoor Khan for the first time asserted that Azizur Rehman was a nephew whom he had adopted; but he did not satisfy the immigration officer that an adoption, legal or de facto, had taken place and Azizur Rehman was sent home that evening.
§ Mr. St. John-Stevasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the circumstances surrounding the refusal to allow Azizur Rehman to enter the country.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to the Question by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck).