§ 24. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of state for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to immigration and repatriation.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonWe maintain a strict control over immigration. We recognise, as did our predecessors, that we have two commitments which must be fulfilled, to admit the wives and children of men settled here on 1st January 1973 755W when the Immigration Act 1971 came into force and to admit in a controlled and orderly manner those East African Asians who hold United Kingdom passports and have no other citizenship. In order to bring these two commitments to an end more quickly we have raised the rate of entry of United Kingdom passport holders and we are improving the procedure for entry of dependants from the Indian Sub-Continent.
§ 27. Sir David Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that considerable numbers of Commonwealth immigrants and their dependants are still entering Great Britain in spite of the increase in unemployment in the United Kingdom; and whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that the numbers of immigrants are reduced and that families who wish to be reunited are enabled to rejoin each other in their countries of origin.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonCommonwealth citizens admitted for settlement in the first six months of this year numbered 14,455. These were almost all dependants of people already settled here and United Kingdom passport holders and their dependants and, therefore, add very little to the number of people seeking employment. We have no intenion of restricting the admission of these people which has been accepted by successive Governments. Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 already provides for assistance to those who wish to return to their own countries.
§ 31. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have been admitted into Great Britain for permanent residence so far this year; and how many further applications for permanent residence have been approved in that period to include both East African Asians and dependants of United Kingdom residents.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonFrom 1st January to 30th June 1975, 14,455 Commonwealth citizens, of whom 5,888 were United Kingdom passport holders and 4,128 foreign nationals were accepted for settlement on arrival. A further 9,956 Commonwealth citizens and 11,048 foreign nationals were accepted for settlement on removal of the time limit756W attached to their stay here. All figures are for the United Kingdom.