HC Deb 07 December 1972 vol 847 cc485-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the expenditure of £135,000 under subheads D.10 and 12 of the grants-in-aid connected with Commonwealth immigrants will not be accounted for in detail to the Comptroller and Auditor-General; why any unexpended balances of these sums issued will not be liable to surrender to the Consolidated Fund; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Lane

Only Sub-head D12 is directly connected with Commonwealth immigrants. These are contributions—like many others in Supply Estimates—to be used by the voluntary bodies and the charitable fund concerned for the general purposes for which they are established; and like other contributions to them could not be connected with particular expenditure. Audit of the whole of their expenditure is provided for under their constitutions.

It is normal practice that unexpended balances of a grant-in-aid are not surrendered; but future instalments of a grant-in-aid take account of unspent sums.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry into the United Kingdom by Ugandan, Kenyan, Tanzanian and other Asians with non-United Kingdom passports, but with wives, children or other close relatives in the United Kingdom, have been refused at ports of entry; and to what countries applicants have been sent following such refusals.

Mr. Lane

Since 7th August 31 Asians from East Africa with close relatives in this country have been refused admission and sent away from the United Kingdom. Of these, 15 were from Uganda, one from Kenya and 15 from Tanzania. It is understood that eight went to Canada, seven to France, five to Germany, one to Kenya, one to Switzerland, one to Tanzania and eight to Uganda. In addition two citizens of Tanzania, one citizen of Kenya, 35 citizens of Uganda and 49 stateless Asians have been formally refused admission but are still in the United Kingdom: many have close relatives here.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases during 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, Kenyans, Tanzanians, Malawians, Singaporians and others holding United Kingdom passports resident in these countries were admitted to the United Kingdom by immigration officers for an initial period of less than six months.

Mr. Lane

I regret that this information is not available.