HC Deb 08 November 1972 vol 845 cc197-8W
Mr. Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he estimates to be the number of persons who will be entitled to enter the United Kingdom from elsewhere than Uganda as dependants of the Asians who have been, or are expected to be, admitted directly from Uganda following the events of last August.

Mr. Kershaw

Such information as has been provided by applicants for entry certificates in Uganda about their dependants elsewhere is being analysed but, in view of the numbers of applications involved, this will necessarily take some time. I will write to my right hon. Friend when the information becomes available. On the information we have at present there appear to be no significant numbers outside Uganda.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, since on 25th October, 1972, the Foreign Secretary gave the figure of 25,000 entry certificates having been issued in Kampala up to 23rd October, 1972, and 18,555 Asians had arrived in the United Kingdom, and on 26th October his Private Secretary said 26,500 had been issued and that 19,500 Asians had arrived by the evening of 25th October, and as these figures conflict with the Home Office statements, he will co-ordinate the preparation of figures by these Departments; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kershaw

I am not aware of any significant conflict between the figures given by my office as detailed by the hon. Member and any comparable figures given by the Home Office. There is already close co-ordination between these Departments on the preparation of figures.