§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT the forms of expenditure, for which the prior authority of the Home Office is needed before spending, by the Ugandan Resettlement Board; what items can be spent without reference; and in the latter case whether any limit is placed on them.
§ Mr. LaneThe board has discretion to meet reasonable and necessary expenditure on receiving refugees in need and arranging for their temporary accommodation in resettlement centres. It must not meet needs which can be dealt with by the normal agencies. Detailed guidance to local authorities about grants which the board may make to them has been issued in the board's letter of 1st November, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The board must obtain prior approval from the Home Office for any grant to a local authority which exceeds £30,000 for any one project, and for any expenditure which would involve a long-term commitment or which is not defined in the letter to local authorities. Prior approval is also required for expenditure, above certain limits, on helping refugees to re-emigrate. The total expenditure of the board is limited by the amount of the Government's grant-in-aid. Home Office approval is required for the numbers and grades of the board's staff.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state what approaches he has received from Mr. Dhirajlal Harjivandas Karia to admit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harjivandas Daya Karia, 486W Ugandan Asians, now stateless, into this country, and with what results.
§ Mr. LaneMr. and Mrs. Karia arrived on 26th October with Ugandan passports but without entry certificates. Their son applied for their admission to the United Kingdom for settlement on the grounds that Mr. Karia was to become a partner in his business; but the evidence produced was inadequate. Admission was accordingly refused, and Mr. and Mrs. Karia were returned to Uganda on 3rd November.