HL Deb 27 October 1975 vol 365 cc139-40WA
Lord BARNBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With regard to continuing Press reports of illegal non-white immigration, whether they can give any indication of the current volume of such illegal immigrants; and what is the proportion of arrests to the estimated numbers succeeding.

Lord HARRIS of GREENWICH

It is not possible, and cannot by its nature be possible, to measure the scale of illegal entry. During 1973, 53 Commonwealth citizens and 42 foreign nationals were detained as illegal entrants who entered the United Kingdom on or after 1st January 1973. In 1974 the figures were 97 Commonwealth citizens and 41 foreign nationals. Between 1st January and 30th June 1975, the figures were 38 Commonwealth citizens and 61 foreign nationals.

House adjourned at one minute past ten o'clock