§ 48. Sir D. Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the net increase of Commonwealth immigrants in the first five months of 1969 by 50,407 people, compared with 40,278 in the first five months of 1968; and if he will take steps to ensure that the future trend will be downwards.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe figures quoted by the right hon. Gentleman refer not to immigrants, but to the balance of all Commonwealth citizens arriving and departing, including visitors, students and others admitted for temporary purposes. They are no guide to the trend or scale of immigration. The number of Commonwealth citizens admitted for settlement during the first five months of 1969 was 18,494 as against 22,278 for the same period of 1968. This is fall of 17 per cent.